NUH Chief Vows Action After Review Linked 520 Cases to Avoidable Maternity Harm
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 25
NUH Chief Vows Action After Review Linked 520 Cases to Avoidable Maternity Harm
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 25
Summary
Anthony May said he was "shocked and upset" by the Nottingham maternity review and pledged to implement all immediate and essential actions set out for Nottingham University Hospitals.
The report found deeply embedded systemic failures and a bullying, toxic culture, with potentially avoidable outcomes in 520 cases and different care possibly changing outcomes for 260 babies.
May said NUH had already introduced Martha's Rule in maternity services and acknowledged the trust had not always met families' expectations on holding staff accountable.
A new Learning and Improvement Board will be chaired by Labour MP Michelle Welsh, while some affected families are renewing calls for a statutory public inquiry into maternity services across England.
The review, involving about 2,500 families and more than 800 staff, is the largest maternity inquiry in NHS history and has intensified pressure for stronger accountability across the health service.
After a decade of failures, will any Nottingham hospital leaders face criminal charges for the deaths of 155 babies?
As whistleblowers describe a 'horrific' cover-up, how can expectant parents trust that their concerns will be heard?
The Ockenden Review: 500 Mothers and Babies Failed by Nottingham NHS Trust—A National Maternity Scandal Unveiled
Overview
The Ockenden Review, published in June 2026 and led by Donna Ockenden, exposed deep and long-standing failures in maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The report revealed a culture where patient safety was often ignored, and staff routinely failed to listen to women’s concerns, especially those from Black, Asian, and other minority backgrounds, as well as teenage and deprived mothers. These systemic problems led to significant harm and distress for hundreds of families. The review’s findings have prompted urgent calls for reform, accountability, and lasting change to ensure safer, more compassionate care for all mothers and babies.