Review scope into Nottingham maternity failings expanded

The scope of an investigation into maternity failings at Nottingham’s hospitals has been expanded.

Senior midwife Donna Ockenden is leading an investigation into how hundreds of babies died or were left injured in the care of Nottingham University Hospitals Trust.

She said the inquiry, which is the largest in NHS history, would now take a detailed look into antenatal care at the city’s two maternity units.

The investigation has so far been exploring neonatal deaths, stillbirths, injured babies and mothers, and maternal deaths dating back to April 2012.

It will now also cover antenatal care, which will include all contact mothers have with maternity services, until they give birth.

Ms Ockenden said “We’re asking women from across Nottinghamshire who have had their care at either the Queen’s Medical Centre or City Hospital to contact us and tell us about their antenatal experience.

“By antenatal, I mean all of the care they may have received during the time leading up to the birth of their baby – from first contact with maternity services until they go into labour.

“That can involve appointments, tests, scanning, screening.

“We’re likely to hear an awful lot of good practice, but if anyone has got any concerns or questions, we feel now is the right time to look in depth into antenatal care.”

Anthony May, chief executive of The Nottinghamshire University Hospitals Trust, said that it “continues to engage positively” with the review, adding “Donna and her team are encouraging more women and families to tell them about the antenatal care they have received at our hospitals.

“This is an important aspect of our maternity services and I support Donna’s desire to hear from women and families who have experience of these services.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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