A major inquiry has concluded that over 500 mothers and babies suffered preventable harm or death due to deep-seated issues at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust. Led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, this extensive investigation revealed that trust leadership ignored documented, severe problems within their maternity department for many years.
The review, which gathered input from approximately 2,500 families and 800 staff members, indicates that 260 of these outcomes might have been different with proper care. Specifically, 155 infants lost their lives, and 105 sustained serious injuries. The report categorized 520 cases as having significant or major concerns regarding the quality of management and safety standards.
Ockenden highlighted that many issues, including poor staffing and neglected mandatory training, were known as far back as 2010. She also noted a persistent culture where parents were not listened to, and staff occasionally exhibited cruel behavior, such as dismissing laboring mothers or ignoring their requests for assistance. Despite the findings, some senior leaders chose not to participate in the investigation, prompting the government to propose new regulations that could penalize non-compliant staff with potential prison time.
In response, the health secretary announced that Martha’s Rule will be implemented across maternity units to improve patient advocacy. Meanwhile, NUH leadership issued a formal apology, acknowledging that trust must be rebuilt through concrete actions rather than words. Families affected by the scandal, including those of Harriet Hawkins and Wynter Andrews, continue to press for accountability and lasting structural reform within the NHS.
