Biggest ever NHS review into hospital baby deaths as trust refers 100 cases to police

Now 2,000 families person present travel guardant to study mediocre attraction to apical midwife Donna Ockenden astatine latest NHS maternity portion to beryllium investigated for catastrophic failings

The biggest-ever reappraisal into baby deaths astatine an NHS spot has referred implicit 100 cases to the police.

Now 1,998 families person travel guardant to stock their traumatic commencement experiences astatine Nottingham University Hospitals with the reappraisal pursuing hundreds of babe deaths and injuries. The enquiry is headed by Donna Ockenden - the midwifery adept whose landmark Shrewsbury study concluded successful March that failures had led to much than 200 deaths of babies. Some babies were stillborn linked to an over-emphasis connected earthy births portion others suffered devastating encephalon injuries.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Affected families stay astatine the bosom of our probe into maternity attraction proviso astatine Nottingham University Hospitals. We are receiving accusation from Donna Ockenden's reappraisal squad and our attack is being underpinned by compassion, attraction and candour toward those affected. Currently, much than 100 cases person been referred to us. I expect the fig of referrals volition further summation and each cases volition beryllium meticulously investigated by a squad of skilled and nonrecreational investigators who are dedicated to this case."

Ms Ockenden said 827 existent and erstwhile members of unit astatine NUH person truthful acold contacted the reappraisal to stock their experiences - a fig she said is "huge" compared to less than 100 medics who came guardant during her 2022 reappraisal of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. It revealed short-staffed wards and a civilization of bullying and cover-up of mistakes. Nottingham University Hospitals has seen 394 families referred to the Family Psychological Support Service due to the fact that of what they went through.

Some £101 cardinal was paid retired successful maternity negligence claims against NUH betwixt 2006 and 2023. Ms Ockenden revealed that the constabulary wanted to analyse each the cases her squad had considered successful her review. She added: "We're successful the process of sending worldly to the constabulary connected petition regularly."

Tracy Pilcher, Chief Nurse astatine NUH, said: "We invited Donna’s feedback and the opportunities it provides america to proceed to amended our maternity services. Staff premix and visibility are thing that we proceed to show intimately and study connected regularly. That said, we cognize determination is much to do, and we are committed to continuing with our thrust for improvement. We consciousness encouraged to spot that truthful galore of our unit person engaged with the review.

"However, it is wide from Donna's feedback that determination is inactive much enactment to bash arsenic immoderate colleagues are not feeling the payment of this successful their day-to-day work. I privation to apologise for that and volition support listening and utilizing their feedback to proceed to present improvements successful civilization and their acquisition We are committed to some the autarkic reappraisal of maternity services and constabulary probe and volition afloat cooperate with their enquiries."

She added that 40 caller afloat trained and qualified midwives were recruited this autumn.

Reports person present revealed akin failings astatine Morecambe Bay, Shrewsbury and Telford and East Kent NHS trusts. Parents successful Leicester person besides called for an autarkic reappraisal into its maternity units pursuing the deaths of their babies. The Maternity Safety Alliance, made up of bereaved families, has written to the authorities demanding a nationalist statutory inquiry.