A report on maternity issues and infant deaths at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust is set to be released today.
The extensive maternity review within the NHS, led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, was initiated following concerns raised by Sarah and Jack Hawkins after the stillbirth of their daughter Harriet at Nottingham City Hospital in 2016.
Despite the initial hospital review indicating no clear fault, the Hawkinses, who were both employed by the trust, demanded an external investigation. The subsequent review in 2019 identified numerous shortcomings at the trust and determined that Harriet’s death was likely preventable.
Over 2,500 families and more than 800 staff members have provided input to the review since then. The General Medical Council (GMC) and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) are currently probing the allegations. The report is scheduled for release at 11:45 am.
NUH has already paid substantial compensation and fines, including a record £1.6 million penalty in 2021 for maternity lapses resulting in the deaths of three infants.
Today marks a challenging day for many families who have persistently sought answers regarding their baby’s fate.
Sarah and Jack Hawkins, both employed at NUH, trusted their coworkers to care for them during Sarah’s prolonged labor in 2016. Despite raising concerns about feeling movement in her belly, the couple were repeatedly advised to stay home and relax by the maternity unit during the days leading up to her admission on the sixth day, where Harriet’s demise was confirmed.
The Hawkinses were initially informed that Harriet’s death was due to an infection, a claim disputed by Dr. Hawkins, an expert in infections. An external inquiry later revealed multiple care failures and attributed Harriet’s death to preventable causes.
The publication of the Ockenden report today will shed light on suspected care deficiencies at the trust from 2012 to 2025. The findings are anticipated to prompt national adjustments to care protocols.
In 2025, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust faced a landmark fine for systemic failures resulting in harm to infants and mothers. A subsequent fine of £1.6 million was imposed following the deaths of Adele O’Sullivan, Kahlani Rawson, and Quinn Parker in 2021.
A criminal investigation into NUH’s maternity shortcomings led Nottinghamshire Police to pursue a corporate manslaughter case last year. The review, running concurrently, examined failings at two maternity units under the trust’s jurisdiction.
The GMC and NMC are conducting individual staff misconduct inquiries at NUH. The Ockenden report will encompass care lapses at the trust between 2012 and 2025, potentially prompting nationwide care reforms.
Maternity care advocates stress the need for comprehensive system changes to address the crisis. Labour MP Michelle Welsh emphasized the urgency for bold policy changes to overhaul the system effectively, beyond mere funding adjustments.
The families eagerly awaiting the report’s release will convene in central Nottingham, where Donna Ockenden will present the findings at 11:45 am. The report will be distributed to families and media personnel, with the presentation expected to last approximately an hour.
