Two individuals have been apprehended on suspicion of wrongdoing related to the operation of mortuary services within a hospital trust implicated in a significant maternity scandal within the NHS. The arrests occurred shortly before the release of a comprehensive report that scrutinized over 2,500 cases involving maternal and infant fatalities or severe injuries at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust.
Nottinghamshire Police disclosed that the men, aged 55 and 59, were detained on Monday for their involvement in operating procedures at the trust’s mortuary service, which is conducted at Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital under authorization from the Human Tissue Authority.
The enforcement actions were conducted under Operation Perth, Nottinghamshire Police’s investigation into the maternity services at the aforementioned hospitals. Operation Perth revealed violations of the Human Tissue Act regulations concerning the management and operational practices of the mortuary services.
Deputy Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire, Rob Griffin, acknowledged the distress this situation may cause for affected families. He highlighted the timing of these developments just ahead of the forthcoming independent maternity review, led by Donna Ockenden, which is anticipated to shed light on challenging issues faced by families.
The report by Donna Ockenden is scheduled for publication on Wednesday, detailing distressing inadequacies in maternity care at Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital, including instances of discrimination against mothers. The review scrutinized numerous cases involving infant and maternal fatalities or injuries, including instances of stillbirths under the care of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The trust has already paid substantial compensations and fines due to legal actions over substandard care, while Nottinghamshire Police initiated a corporate manslaughter inquiry last year as part of a broader criminal investigation into maternity care lapses at the trust.
Both the General Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council are probing allegations against individual staff members. Ahead of the report’s release, the Nottingham Maternity Families Group urged former PM Keir Starmer to commission an official public inquiry into maternity care nationwide.