Babies were subjected to mistreatment even after death at troubled hospital maternity units. The Human Tissue Authority inspectors discovered eight bodies in a state of advanced decomposition due to insufficient freezer space at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The inspectors also noted that the lack of proper checks in the mortuary was increasing the risk of incorrect bodies being released to funeral services.
A recent report by leading midwife Donna Ockenden revealed that 520 mothers and babies had experienced potentially avoidable harm or death under the trust’s care.
Issues with the trust’s mortuary services came to light following a case where the parents of stillborn baby Harriet, Jack and Sarah Hawkins, found that her body had decomposed significantly, leading to the need for triple-bagging before her funeral. The HTA report highlighted that although the Queen’s Medical Centre in the city mostly met standards, there were several deficiencies, such as the routine use of body bags for deteriorating deceased individuals due to freezer shortages.
The inspection team identified eight bodies displaying significant deterioration, with instances of incorrect bodies being released to funeral directors and improper storage of a stillborn infant in a fridge instead of the mortuary.
Separately, Nottinghamshire Police reported the arrest of two individuals linked to the practices in the trust’s mortuary service.
In response to the situation, Chief Executive Anthony May expressed regret and acknowledged accountability for the incidents. He emphasized the importance of treating the deceased with dignity and respect, highlighting the need for improvements in the quality of services provided.
May mentioned that the issues were brought to his attention by a family’s request for information regarding their daughter’s care, leading to immediate reviews and actions taken in collaboration with authorities and regulators to address the shortcomings.
A comprehensive action plan has been submitted to the regulator, ensuring independent oversight to guarantee proper governance and assurance in the future. May reiterated the commitment to rectifying the situation and providing high-quality services for the local community, emphasizing the importance of adhering to all regulatory requirements.
