What's happened
A major Nottingham maternity care review has found widespread failures across care, with 520 cases of harm graded as significant or major. The report calls for accountability and potential public inquiry, as families push for truth and reforms across the NHS maternity system.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- This report marks the largest maternity scandal in NHS history, with 520 cases graded as harm and 155 deaths or serious injuries tied to care gaps.
- The findings show systemic failures at NUH that predate the period reviewed, including leadership disengagement and a culture that hindered patient safety learning.
- The government is weighing a statutory public inquiry; families are divided on the approach, yet all seek accountability and lasting change.
- The next steps include potential legislation to compel testimony and possible prosecutions for non-engagement, signaling a shift toward stronger accountability.
How we got here
Donna Ockenden led the inquiry into Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, examining events from 2012 to 2025. The review identified persistent problems—staffing gaps, delays, poor listening to patients, and a culture of bullying—that contributed to preventable harm in hundreds of births.
Our analysis
The Guardian reports 520 cases of harm, with 444 cases graded 2 or 3; BBC News corroborates the scale and themes, highlighting 260 cases where care may have altered outcomes. All emphasise the call for accountability and potential public inquiry. Direct quotes from James Murray, Sajid Javid, and Donna Ockenden are included across sources to illustrate the findings.
Go deeper
- What does this mean for NHS maternity services going forward?
- Will there be a statutory public inquiry and when might that happen?
- How might families be supported as reforms take hold?
More on these topics
-
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust - Hospital in England
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is one of England's largest acute teaching trusts. It was established on 1 April 2006 following the merger of Nottingham City Hospital and the Queen's Medical Centre NHS Trusts.
-
Donna Ockenden - British midwife and activist
Donna Ockenden is a British midwife, businesswoman and community activist. As a senior midwife, she was commissioned in 2016 by the UK Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to chair an independent review into maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital
-
Nottingham - City in England
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, England. Part of the East Midlands region, it is 128 miles north of London and 45 miles northeast of Birmingham. To the west lies Derby, separated by the M1 motorway.
-
Jack Hawkins - Actor
John Edward Hawkins, CBE was an English actor who worked on stage and in film from the 1930s until the 1970s. One of the most popular British film stars of the 1950s, he was best known for his portrayal of military men.
-
Nottingham City Hospital - Hospital in England
Nottingham City Hospital is a large hospital located in Nottingham, England. It occupies a large 90-acre (360,000 m2) site on the ring road to the North of the city centre. It is composed of many buildings, most of which are joined by long corridors. Buildings include a leisure club, a Maggies Centre for people with cancer, and a patient hotel. It is managed by the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.