UK regulator for nurses and midwives, safeguarding public health
The Ockenden-led maternity inquiry has found potentially avoidable harms across NUH maternity units, with hundreds of families contributing to a report that details bullying, poor care, and leadership instability spanning more than a decade. The findings call for real change in England’s maternity services.
A government-ordered review into Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has exposed long-standing failings in maternity care, with 2,500 families and 800 staff contributing to the Ockenden inquiry. Police investigations and large fines are part of the ongoing accountability process, as the NHS faces calls for systemic reform.
The Amos review has recommended appointing a national maternity and neonatal commissioner to drive urgent reforms in England. Ministers are now pursuing this plan, signaling a turning point after years of concerns about safety, listening to women, and discrimination. An accompanying 10-point plan sets out actions to improve triage, staffing, capacity, and accountability.
Independent reports that Elaine Sullivan has been found guilty of serious misconduct, including bullying, by an NMC tribunal; 13 colleagues complained over ten months. Sullivan’s name is struck from the nursing register following admissions to all charges.
Two UK NHS harassment cases have progressed on appeal and tribunal rulings. In Scotland, a nurse’s harassment ruling against NHS Fife is being appealed after a 2025 tribunal found in her favour on part of the case. In England, a court case involving a senior doctor who faced sexual-harassment allegations at Stoke-on-Trent has entered a new phase as the MPTS proceedings continue.