Two individuals have been apprehended on suspicion of impropriety in managing mortuary services within a hospital trust that is at the core of what has been labeled as the most significant maternity scandal in the history of the NHS.
The arrests occurred shortly before the release of a comprehensive report on shortcomings at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust, which scrutinized over 2,500 cases involving mothers and infants who either passed away or sustained severe injuries.
Nottinghamshire Police disclosed that the two men, aged 55 and 59, were taken into custody on Monday regarding operational procedures within the trust’s mortuary service. NUH administers mortuary services at Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital under an authorization provided by the Human Tissue Authority.
The enforcement was conducted by Operation Perth, Nottinghamshire Police’s inquiry into maternity services at both medical facilities. Breaches of the Human Tissue Act regulations related to the management and operation of mortuary services were uncovered by Operation Perth.
Deputy Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire, Rob Griffin, conveyed, “We understand this will be especially distressing for families. We acknowledge that this development coincides with the impending publication of the independent maternity review led by Donna Ockenden, which will be a crucial yet challenging period for families.”
The review conducted by senior midwife Donna Ockenden is set to be unveiled on Wednesday, detailing appalling deficiencies in maternity care at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital, including discriminatory behavior towards mothers. The examination encompassed over 2,500 cases involving infants and mothers who perished or sustained injuries, encompassing stillborn babies under the care of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The trust has already disbursed substantial amounts in compensation and fines following legal action over substandard care, with Nottinghamshire Police initiating a corporate manslaughter investigation last year as part of a broader criminal inquiry into maternity lapses within the trust.
Moreover, the General Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council are probing accusations against individual staff members. Ahead of the report’s release, the Nottingham Maternity Families Group has urged former PM Keir Starmer to commission a statutory public inquiry into maternity care nationwide.
