Heart-wrenching accounts from families affected by the largest maternity scandal in NHS history have been brought to light following the publication of a landmark inquiry. The Ockenden review into care at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust revealed approximately 2,500 families were impacted, with a stark figure of 155 babies who may have survived and 105 who suffered serious injury due to significant care failings. A further 520 cases involving mothers and babies were categorised with 'significant' or 'major' concerns over the care provided, indicating instances where different management would reasonably have been expected to alter the outcome.
Among the harrowing testimonies shared are those of Sarah and Jack Hawkins, who tragically lost their daughter Harriet in 2016. Harriet was stillborn at Nottingham City Hospital after repeated delays in intervention, with an external review concluding her death was 'almost certainly preventable'. Jack expressed the profound emotional shift, stating, 'how on earth are you supposed to deal with the change in life from such excitement to utter emptiness?' The Ockenden report recognised their relentless pursuit of the truth as a 'watershed moment' that catalysed the Nottingham maternity review, highlighting a 'systemic cover-up' and misleading investigations that deeply affected the couple's wellbeing.
Gary and Sarah Andrews recounted the devastating loss of their daughter Wynter, who died just 23 minutes after her birth in 2019. Despite repeated warning signs of distress, these were reportedly missed, with one clinician allegedly dismissing concerns by stating the hospital would be 'overrun' if every mother's worries were heeded. An inquest in 2020 determined Wynter's death could have been avoided had 'multiple missed opportunities' been identified by staff. Natalie Needham also shared her anguish after her son Kouper died of respiratory complications at home, just 24 hours old, having been discharged from Nottingham City Hospital despite her concerns, which she believes were disregarded due to her having four older children.
The scandal extends beyond direct infant and maternal harm. Carly Wesson and Carl Everson faced the unbearable decision to terminate their pregnancy in 2019 after being incorrectly advised their daughter had a rare genetic condition. They discovered six weeks later that the test result was a false positive. When questioning if their daughter, nicknamed Ladybird, would have survived, they were met with a doctor's response: 'Well, you could have miscarried anyway.' Felicity Benyon's experience also highlights the severe impact on mothers, as she suffered lifelong injuries and required an emergency hysterectomy during a planned Caesarean section due to a suspected, potentially fatal, pregnancy complication.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has issued an apology to all affected families and has committed to implementing improvements. However, families like Carly and Carl are advocating for a statutory public inquiry into maternity services, hoping the Ockenden review will lead to 'clear actionable change, both in Nottingham and nationally.' The scale of the failings underscores a critical need for systemic reform across maternity care to prevent such tragedies from recurring and to ensure accountability and improved patient safety.