Review into Nottingham maternity services – 3 year anniversary

Today marks the third anniversary of Donna Ockenden’s review into the maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Since the review started in September 2022, Ms Ockenden and her team have worked with many families to ensure that everyone’s voices are heard and to work towards improving the services and the safety of mothers and babies moving forward. 

The review is the largest of its kind to date within the UK and there are now more than 2,000 families involved. It is thought that this number will continue to rise before the inquiry is completed as it continues to evolve and delve into the real issues at the heart of the Trust’s maternity services. 

At Freeths, we have met with a large number of the families involved in the inquiry. We have great confidence in Ms Ockenden, her team, and the process they are carrying out and we are hopeful that once the findings are published next year, the recommendations will be accepted and implemented by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and real change will be actioned. 

We are continuing to receive enquiries from families who have been affected by the poor maternity care in Nottingham and we would be happy to speak to anyone else who feels they need help. As clinical negligence lawyers, we represent many families and children affected by failures in maternity care during labour and birth, including those who have lost loved ones. We have seen the number of enquiries increasing, and we welcome anyone with concerns to approach us to discuss how we might be able to help. 

Our goal is to ensure that children who have suffered preventable injuries receive the necessary services, such as care, therapy, aids, equipment, and appropriately adapted accommodation to support them throughout their lives. For families who have experienced loss, we provide support and therapy to help them cope with these tragic events. Additionally, we strive to secure an apology from the responsible Trust and work to prevent similar mistakes in the future.