Nottingham maternity care scandal review: what are the key findings?
Summary
A review led by midwife Donna Ockenden investigated serious problems in maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust between 2012 and 2015. The report found many cases where poor care led to harm or death of mothers and babies, with repeated failures in reporting, understaffing, and ignoring women’s concerns.Key Facts
- The review looked at 2,500 cases involving deaths or serious injuries to mothers and babies.
- Many stillbirths, maternal deaths, and complications were linked to poor care that could have been avoided.
- Serious problems happened at every stage of maternity care, from pregnancy checkups to after birth.
- Women’s concerns, like reduced baby movement or severe pain, were often dismissed or ignored by staff.
- Staff worked in a toxic culture with bullying and chronic understaffing, affecting patient safety.
- One case involved baby Harriet Hawkins, who was stillborn after her mother’s repeated reports of severe pain were ignored.
- The hospital trust paid £2.8 million in the largest clinical negligence settlement for a stillbirth.
- The report calls the failures “systemic, deep-rooted and sustained” over many years.
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