NHS's Largest Maternity Review to Publish, Exposing Widespread Failings and Avoidable Harm

The largest maternity review in NHS history, led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, is set to publish its findings on widespread failings at Nottingham University Hospital (NUH) NHS Trust, linked to the deaths of babies and avoidable harm. Contributions from over 2,500 families and more than 800 staff underscore the review’s scope, which began in September 2022.

The trust has already faced significant financial repercussions, including a £1.6 million fine for the deaths of three babies in 2021, the largest such fine for maternity failings. A police investigation, Operation Perth, launched in June 2025, continues alongside the review, with two recent arrests for suspected misconduct in the mortuary service.

Sarah and Jack Hawkins, whose daughter Harriet died in 2016, were among the first to highlight the trust’s failings. Despite initial claims of “no obvious fault,” an external review found Harriet’s death was “almost certainly preventable.” The couple, both former NUH employees, received a £2.8 million settlement, believed to be the largest for a stillbirth negligence case.

Regulatory bodies, the GMC and NMC, are investigating numerous staff, with the NMC reviewing 96 “fitness to practise” cases and the GMC examining 62, amid a national inquiry into maternity care prompted by the review.

The findings, covering April 2012 to May 2025, are anticipated to have far-reaching implications for the NHS, potentially leading to increased scrutiny and policy changes.