Largest NHS Maternity Inquiry Reveals Serious Failures
A major UK maternity inquiry has found that more than 500 mothers and babies suffered potentially avoidable harm or death due to poor care at hospitals run by Nottingham University Hospitals Trust.
The independent investigation is being described as the largest maternity inquiry in the history of the National Health Service.
The probe reviewed cases involving more than 2,500 families over a 13-year period from 2012 to 2025.
According to the report, at least 156 cases involved baby deaths.
Six mothers also died at the two maternity units operated by the trust in central England.
Report Finds Toxic Culture and Cover-Ups
The inquiry was led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden.
Her report found a bullying and toxic culture inside the trust’s maternity services.
It said a small group of powerful leaders had influenced the working environment and contributed to serious failures.
The report also criticised poor investigations and alleged cover-ups in some cases.
One case involved baby Harriet Hawkins, who was stillborn in 2016.
Her parents, Sarah and Jack Hawkins, said their concerns were dismissed and that they were not told the truth after their daughter’s death.
Ockenden described Harriet’s death as avoidable and said it was followed by misleading investigations.
Families Demand Accountability
The report found that the baby deaths included 94 stillbirths and 62 deaths shortly after birth.
Causes included oxygen deprivation, infections acquired in hospital and other care failures.
Families affected by the scandal said their warnings and concerns were ignored.
Health Minister James Murray described the findings as chilling during remarks in parliament.
He said regulators had focused more on protecting clinicians than ensuring accountability.
Murray said he was appalled by the neglect, incompetence, discrimination, harassment and poor treatment suffered by families.
The government has promised an action plan by the end of the year.
The Nottingham case is the latest in a series of maternity scandals involving hospitals in England, including East Kent, Morecambe Bay, and Shrewsbury and Telford.
