Overview: The Nottingham Maternity Scandal
A joint investigation was started in 2021 by Channel 4 News and The Independent. The investigation has discovered that between 2010-2020 at least 46 babies have suffered with brain damage, 19 babies have been stillborn after negligent deliveries, and they have a growing total of 1700 cases of possible harm to new born babies and mothers at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust maternity units over a 10-year period.
Evidence showed poor care of mothers and babies as well as continuous failure to investigate baby’s deaths in NUH’s maternity units in the Queens medical centre and Nottingham City Hospital.
In October 2020 the care quality Commission (CQC) inspected the trusts maternity services and “several serious concerns were identified.”
Within the years 2010-2020, NUH maternity units had 201 claims filed against them with 84 being settled in this time. In addition, the trust faced accusations of “failure or delay to treatment” in 25 incidents, “failure to recognise complications” on 13 occasions and 10 inadequate nursing care cases.
When we take our viewpoint on the Nottingham Maternity Scandal, we see the remarkable impact of awareness. Families once uninformed of the gravity of their experiences now realise it’s not a simple mistake but, unfortunately, severe medical negligence.
As news of this investigation spreads, more affected families step forward, seeking justice and accountability. They’re motivated by closure and the belief that their voices can reshape patient rights, ethics, and legal responsibility. This awareness is a powerful force, driving individuals to demand accountability and change healthcare’s approach to patient safety.
At UKEM, our commitment extends far beyond the legal aspects of medical negligence cases. We recognise that many individuals and families affected by medical negligence often remain unaware of their rights and the potential for redress until they encounter stories shared by others who have experienced similar challenges. The serious effects of medical negligence often go unnoticed until stories/articles like these, reveal the painful experiences people have endured.
That’s why, at UKEM, we are deeply dedicated to not only handling medical negligence cases but also to raising awareness and showcasing real-world examples.
We believe in the importance of sharing these stories. It empowers individuals to step out and share their own experiences, and to seek the accountability that they deserve.
We asked Alex Pett, UKEM’s Head of Clinical Negligence, who brings a wealth of experience from many years in the industry, to comment.
“The maternity scandal at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is a topic ourselves at UKExpertMedical have monitored over the last few years, stretching back to 2020 when the Care Quality Commission reviewed the trust’s maternity services and “several serious concerns were identified”.
The recent news here is progression into providing support for some of the incredibly unfortunate families affected over the last 10+ years, as well as importantly spotlighting the shortcomings of the trust, in order to hopefully prevent any more avoidable tragedies for the local families moving forward.
At UKExpertMedical, we dedicate a significant amount of our time into speaking to families and mothers across the country impacted by events just like those described here, and it’s so sad to hear that incidents of this gravity continue to occur without the appropriate investigation into how and why they are happening.
This news is a step towards improvements in maternity care, which I’m sure anyone would agree is reassuring to hear.”
2023 Baby Lifeline National Maternity Safety Conference
Firstly, some context on how the charity was founded
Baby Lifeline was founded over 40 years ago by Judy Ledger after she tragically lost her first three babies- sadly born to small to survive. The striving goal of the charity is to provide every mother and baby with the best outcome possible. Judy Ledger, a registered nurse, recognised that the only way to make this goal attainable was to support those who care for mothers and their babies by providing them with training, equipment, and knowledge.
Their research has discovered that 13 babies a day are stillborn or pass away in their first 4 weeks of life. When they had investigated these cases, it was reported that many of these cases could have been prevented with better/different care.
So, What Happens At The Conference?
Baby Lifelines annual National Maternity Safety Conference aims to create a forum where parent campaigners, experts, and healthcare professionals can come together. Their shared goal is to learn from past and ongoing investigations into NHS maternity services.
The conference features a lineup of speakers, including families who have tragically lost infants due to preventable issues in NHS maternity units. These heart-wrenching stories underscore the critical need for improvement. Additionally, Donna Ockenden, the charity’s Honorary President, shared her insights and expertise.
This gathering serves as a pivotal platform for collaborative efforts to drive positive change and enhance the safety and quality of maternity care within the NHS.
Our own Izzy, who attended the conference, told us:
“I had an amazing day attending the National Maternity Safety Conference on the 21st September. It was a privilege to be able to represent UKExpertMedical at this event.
The themes discussed were very poignant and highlighted both the successes and concerns within maternity care currently. The topics covered encompassed a range of critical issues including: factors implicated in increasing the risk of stillbirth, brain injury and the need for c-section and/or pain relief; the impacts of 3rd and 4th degree tears on the mother’s quality of life and the importance of post-partum care for women at an elevated risk of mental health complications.
Within the clinical negligence department, we advocate for clients facing birth injury claims. The conference provided invaluable insights into the challenges they experience which I was able to pass onto the team, enabling us to deliver a more compassionate and personalised service.
It would be an honour to return next year.“
Our New Team Members!
This month, we’re delighted to welcome three talented individuals who have recently joined our team.
Allow us to introduce Lily, our newest Medico-Legal Assistant Apprentice here at UKEM. Lily’s role involves working across all of our departments assisting with medico-legal matters.
We’re thrilled to introduce Eleanor, our newest addition to the UKExpertDigital marketing team. In her role as Marketing Assistant, Eleanor plays a part in supporting our campaigns and enhancing our webpages.
We’re also excited to introduce Aiden, who will be joining our Industrial Disease & Personal Injury Department as a File Handler.
As always, we wish our new starters the best of luck with their new role and can’t wait to see how they grow with us!
Latest Industry Updates
Hospitals in Newcastle blame new computer system for lost letters to patients (28th September 2023) Read more
Gas fitter from Gomersal dies after coming into contact with Asbestos (22nd September 2023) Read more
Data shows Somerset NHS was the ‘most impacted’ trust by Medical Negligence claims (15th September 2023) Read more
Nottingham maternity scandal continues as parents keep coming forward with stories of poor care (11th August 2023) Read more
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UKEMs September Reviews
