The tragic reality of substandard care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) is set to be exposed in full today, as the long-awaited Ockenden Report is published. This monumental inquiry, led by renowned midwife Donna Ockenden, has scrutinised a staggering 2,500 cases of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths, and instances where babies or mothers suffered brain damage and other injuries between April 2012 and May 2025. The scale of the investigation makes it the largest of its kind in NHS history.
Early indications suggest that the report will reveal a 'horrendous' catalogue of widespread failures and deeply concerning behaviour by staff at Nottingham's two main hospitals, the Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital. A senior source has described the findings as 'very bad' and 'pretty challenging stuff', while allegations of racism towards mothers and a culture where concerns were dismissed are also anticipated to be detailed.
One devastating account is that of Sarah Andrews, whose daughter Wynter tragically died in 2019 at the Queen’s Medical Centre. The coroner later ruled that Wynter's death was a 'clear and obvious case of neglect'. Ms Andrews recounts her own 'truly horrific' experience, highlighting how she was initially told to stay at home for six days during labour and then faced a series of failures in hospital care.
The inquiry has followed a decade-long campaign by affected families seeking justice and meaningful change. Labour MP Michelle Welsh, the government's first maternity adviser, spoke ahead of the report's publication, highlighting that her own baby's survival was 'pure luck'. She stressed that such reliance on luck is a clear indication of a system failing.
While acknowledging progress in addressing these issues, Ms Welsh urged for 'huge systematic change' and warned against relying solely on funding to resolve the crisis. The Ockenden Report is expected to lay bare the systemic issues requiring urgent attention to prevent future tragedies in maternity services.