Ockenden Review Finds 260 Babies Died or Were Harmed at Nottingham Maternity Units
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 24
Ockenden Review Finds 260 Babies Died or Were Harmed at Nottingham Maternity Units
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 24
Summary
444 maternity cases and 76 neonatal cases at Nottingham University Hospitals involved potentially avoidable harm by May 2025, with the review saying different care might have changed outcomes for 260 babies.
Failures stretched back to at least 2010, when trust leaders knew of serious problems but did not act; the report linked deaths and injuries to poor fetal monitoring, missed distress in labour and failures to escalate cases.
A bullying, toxic culture and unstable leadership worsened safety, with staff describing intimidation, denial of poor outcomes and entrenched cliques that made speaking up dangerous.
Women and families were often ignored or poorly informed, the review found, while bereaved parents also faced post-death care failures including a 2022 case in which the wrong baby was released to a funeral director.
Ockenden said the NHS's largest maternity inquiry should drive change in England, setting urgent actions for Nottingham on risk management, escalation, neonatal training, emergency care and bereavement processes.
As the Nottingham scandal exposes a national crisis, are other UK maternity units hiding similar deadly secrets?
Can new policies truly fix the 'toxic and cruel' NHS culture that cost hundreds of babies their lives?
With staff now arrested, will NHS leaders who oversaw a decade of harm finally face criminal charges?
The Ockenden Review: Exposing 1,000 Preventable Baby Deaths a Year and Systemic Failures in UK Maternity Care
Overview
The Ockenden Review’s final report, published in June 2026, stands as the largest-ever NHS maternity inquiry and marks a turning point for families seeking answers and justice. The report exposes damning evidence of systemic failings within maternity services, revealing a profound crisis that has led to significant numbers of avoidable baby deaths and lasting harm to mothers and children. Consultant Jack Hawkins highlighted the shocking scale of the problem, emphasizing the devastating human cost. These findings have triggered urgent calls for accountability and fundamental change, underscoring the need to address deep-rooted issues within the NHS to prevent future tragedies.