A review into failings at the maternity units of the Queen's Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital will look at cases as far back as 2012. The inquiry, chaired by leading midwife Donna Ockenden, published its terms of reference on Tuesday, September 13.
Whilst its scope goes back 10 years, the review will also consider 'exceptional' cases which date back as far as 2006. The inquiry, which was launched on September 1, will look at clinical incidents where mothers and/or babies have suffered severe harm or death.
It will highlight any failures at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) relating to aspects such as clinical care, governance and incident reporting and leadership and organisational culture. The review, which has already been contacted by "dozens and dozens" of families, will look at cases in five different categories.
Read more: Nottingham maternity review: Why everyone needs to be paying attention
These are: Term and intrapartum stillbirths, neonatal deaths, babies diagnosed with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and related injuries, maternal deaths up to 42 days after giving birth and severe maternal harm. The review will engage with families and current and former staff, as well as stakeholders and regulators.
Feedback will be given to families who want it and where the review team believe better care should have been expected. Cases will be graded on a 0-3 scale, ranging from appropriate care to major concerns with care.
"This nationally-commissioned Review will focus on identifying areas of concern within maternity care at NUH and will provide information and recommend actions to help improve the safety and quality of maternity care and the handling of concerns at NUH when they are raised by women and/or their families," read the terms of reference.
- People wishing to contact the review can do so by emailing nottsreview@donnaockenden.com
They state that NUH will be informed of any learning and recommendations as they become apparent in order to allow "rapid action" to improve maternity care. The full findings are not expected to be published until March 2024.
To read the full terms of reference, click here. Ms Ockenden uncovered 200 avoidable baby deaths at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust earlier this year. NUH's maternity services at Queen's Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital remain 'inadequate' following an unannounced inspection from the Care Quality Commission in March to see if improvements had been made.
Read next:
- Settlement reached after baby suffers injuries during birth at Nottingham hospital
- Donna Ockenden hopes to be in Nottingham 'soon' after 'stark' CQC report
- Nottingham maternity report finds evidence of 'bullying behaviour'
- CQC demands 'widespread and rapid' maternity service improvements at NUH
- Read more health news from across Nottinghamshire
