More than 100 families who have experienced the 'same failures' at Nottingham hospitals' maternity services have sent a letter to Sajid Javid calling for an independent review. Dozens of parents who say their babies have died after mistreatment at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) have asked the Health Secretary to appoint senior midwife Donna Ockenden to carry out an investigation.
The NHS trust, which runs Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital, was served a warning notice by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in March after it again found a number of concerns remained with its maternity department. It follows 46 babies suffering brain damage and 19 being stillborn in the city between 2010 and 2020, resulting in millions of pounds paid out in negligence claims.
Sarah and Jack Hawkins, whose baby Harriet died in the womb in 2016 after a catalogue of errors at City Hospital, said they have been in touch with 117 families who have experienced the "same failings". Representing the families, many of whom were unable to speak due to ongoing action and investigations, the couple told Nottinghamshire Live they had heard stories of "dead babies and extremely traumatic births".
Read more: Nottingham's maternity services need to improve - and we need answers
"Not being listened to, not being taken care of and not escalating when things are going wrong," described Mr Hawkins, before Mrs Hawkins added: "But also a failure with duty of candour, so many people say 'I thought I was the only one, it was my fault, I should've done something different' and also just being confused."
In the letter, the families call for the help of Ms Ockenden as they say "nothing has changed" despite the findings of past reviews and inquests. The senior midwife recently released her report into maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals, which revealed failings had contributed to hundreds of babies' deaths over 20 years.
“Historically there have been reviews, nothing has changed," the letter reads. "Coroners have publicly raised concerns, nothing has changed. If families are to be safeguarded, real and impactful intervention is required." A thematic review of the maternity services is already being carried out by the local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS England, but families say it is moving "with the viscosity of treacle".
Mrs Hawkins said that the probe was not independent and NUH and the CCG had not made some recently affected families aware of the review. "It's basically got a vote of no-confidence from the families", she said. "We need someone who's going to give us some sort of justice who believes us and who looks into everything. There needs to be accountability. How was the service able to be so bad for so long? How was it able to kill babies and harm mothers."
Mr Hawkins said said that a review must be held separate of the CCG and local NHS, adding: "This is not just about maternity, this is about the wider NHS region."
More than 450 families and dozens of members of staff have now come forward to be part of a review of inadequate maternity services at Nottingham hospitals. A review into ‘maternity incidents, complaints and concerns’ at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust (NUH) was announced last year following a series of baby deaths and injuries at the Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital.
The local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS England are jointly leading the ‘thematic review’, which started in October 2021. And Healthcare watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) reinspected maternity services at the hospital last month, having previously rated them ‘inadequate’.
'We can't grieve until we know the services are safe'
Mr and Mrs Hawkins, who previously worked at NUH, said having the families behind them had made a "massive difference". However Mrs Hawkins said it felt like they relive the death of Harriet every time someone comes forward.
"We can't grieve until we know the services are safe because we're still in survival mode," she said. "When someone else comes forward it's so traumatising. All these people are coming forwards and it's just reliving it. As a mother I worry about other mothers because the service isn't safe, it's pot luck at the minute. I don't know anyone who can turn their head off to that."
Mr Hawkins added: "It's awful and part of the awfulness of it is that it's unnecessary. Not only is it difficult on a personal and emotional level but it's really difficult knowing that people leading in healthcare around Nottingham could be doing this, could be making it easier, better and safer."
The letter is the third to be sent to Mr Javid concerning NUH, after one was sent by Nottingham City Council's health scrutiny committee calling for 'urgent government action'. The chair of Nottinghamshire County Council’s health scrutiny committee, Councillor Sue Saddington, also said she would write to the Health Secretary last year.
NUH previously said that it was "fully co-operating" with the review and that it was doing "everything in our power" to ensure the best possible care. Acting Chief Executive Rupert Egginton said: “Our staff remain committed to improving our maternity services at pace to give confidence to patients, colleagues and partners that we have improved the service and the care we provide.”
