Hope has returned that Donna Ockenden may still head up an independent review of Nottingham's troubled maternity services as her landmark work at another NHS trust comes to an end. Affected families retain their view Nottingham University Hospitals, which runs the Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital, is itself "incapable of change".
There have been 34 known maternity investigations following adverse incidents at NUH since 2018, according to representatives of the families. They have involved three maternal deaths, 22 babies who faced potential severe brain injury, four neonatal deaths and five stillbirths.
The current review has seen 500 families speak out about the maternity services in the city and it came after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said its services had been "inadequate" in an inspection in 2020. In the latest development parents had been told on Wednesday, May 4 that Julie Dent CBE, the former chairwoman for the Devon Partnership NHS Trust who was selected to lead the ongoing review, had “for personal reasons, decided not to proceed as Chair of the Independent Review of maternity services as NUH".
Read more: Sajid Javid meets Nottingham families over maternity scandal
She had been appointed by the health secretary on April 22 and without consultation and against families' wishes. However parents who lost their babies soon after birth at Nottingham hospitals have since met Mr Javid to discuss their concerns.
It is now thought Ms Dent's departure leaves open the possibility of Ms Ockenden's appointment. Families have consistently called for her after her report on maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust found more than 200 babies had died over a period of two decades.
It revealed there had been "repeated failures" as well as a culture of denial, bullying and fear. Many staff had resultantly learned to accept poor standards for fear of speaking out.
Similar wording has been used to describe NUH. More than 90 clinical colleagues assisted in delivering the Ockenden report in Shropshire and families had overwhelmingly praised Ms Ockenden's work. Pressure is now mounting on the health secretary.
Ms Ockenden says her position in being ready to lead a review at the trust remains unchanged. Her work at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust is expected to be finalised towards the end of June or the beginning of July this year, but proceedings to a review could begin as soon as possible, including the terms of reference.
It is understood her team has not been disbanded. She says: "I would be honoured to do this."
Significant progress has also been made due to cross-party working between MPs in Nottinghamshire calling on the health secretary to appoint Ms Ockenden. It is hoped the blurring of lines between political parties will help force Mr Javid's hand.
Nottingham's Labour MPs Lilian Greenwood, for city south, Nadia Whittome for the east and Alex Norris for the north, as well as Conservative MPs Darren Henry, for Broxtowe, Tom Randall for Gedling , Ruth Edwards for Rushcliffe and Robert Jenrick for Newark have all signed a letter to Mr Javid stating a "proper independent review" is "long-overdue". The letter adds: "We urge you to accept the Nottingham families' wishes and allow Ms Ockenden to chair the NUH review."
Nottinghamshire Labour county councillor for Arnold South, Michelle Welsh, added: "The health secretary Sajid Javid has now heard directly from the families, he must now act quickly to ensure Donna Ockenden leads the review into maternity services in Nottingham."
Jack and Sarah Hawkins, whose daughter Harriet was stillborn at NUH in April 2016, initially blew the whistle on the scandal. An independent report later found a host of factors contributed to the death and NUH apologised to the family.
Mr Hawkins, an ex-consultant doctor, said his daughter's death "was made so much worse by NUH staff and the board" and described it as "just awful behaviour".
However they are hopeful Ms Ockenden will be appointed. In a joint statement the involved families said: "We are grateful to Sajid Javid for meeting with us. Over the coming weeks we plan on sharing with the Health Secretary detailed information of the significant public scrutiny that has taken place over many years, from varying sources which demonstrate that NUHT have shown themselves incapable of change, which is why a proper independent review must be conducted leading to a full public inquiry.”
