The NHS is set to release the most extensive maternity review ever conducted on Wednesday, detailing care deficiencies that led to the tragic deaths of infants and mothers.
Reports from parents highlight how their urgent requests for assistance were disregarded during pregnancy until it was too late and their babies had passed away. Over 2,500 families and 800 staff members have contributed evidence to the investigation concerning Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust.
The beleaguered trust, operating Nottingham City Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre, has already compensated millions for lapses resulting in fatalities and life-altering harm.
Leading the inquiry is esteemed midwife Donna Ockenden, known for a significant investigation on maternity services in Shrewsbury and Telford.
During her extended labor in April 2016, physiotherapist Sarah Hawkins and her consultant husband, Jack, made numerous attempts to reach the maternity unit for assistance. Despite expressing concerns about the baby’s well-being, they were advised to stay home until Sarah was finally admitted on the sixth day of labor, only to discover that their baby had tragically died.
Sarah was left to labor alone after the devastating news, enduring a prolonged delivery resulting in a stillborn child. The initial explanation attributing the death to an infection was refuted by Dr. Hawkins, leading to an external investigation uncovering 13 care failures, deeming the death as “almost certainly preventable.”
Another family, Emmie Studencki and Ryan Parker, faced distressing events during her second pregnancy in 2021. Despite repeated hospital visits and concerns, Emmie experienced a severe hemorrhage and distressing labor. Tragically, their son Quinn passed away shortly after birth due to a series of errors in care.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust was fined for its negligence in both cases, prompting calls for greater transparency and accountability from affected families. Nottinghamshire Police have initiated investigations, including arrests related to operational practices within the trust’s mortuary service.
The forthcoming Ockenden report, scheduled for publication on Wednesday, will address suspected care deficiencies from 2012 to 2025, shedding light on the need for improved maternity services nationwide.