NHS Trust Leadership Responds to Critical Maternity Report
The chief executive of Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust, Anthony May, has described himself as “shocked and upset” by the severe conclusions of an independent review into the trust's maternity services. The report, released on Wednesday, highlighted “deeply embedded systemic failures” that contributed to the deaths and avoidable harm of hundreds of babies and mothers.
May stated that the announcement reinforced his commitment to ongoing improvements, including the full implementation of all essential recommendations outlined in Donna Ockenden's report. However, he conceded that the trust had not consistently met expectations regarding staff accountability for past shortcomings.
Scope and Findings of the Review
The review, which formally commenced on September 1, 2022, gathered input from approximately 2,500 families and over 800 current and former staff members. Led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, the independent investigation concluded that 520 cases involved “potentially avoidable” outcomes for mothers and infants. The review team informed the BBC that different care approaches might have altered outcomes for 260 babies, including 155 who died and 105 who sustained severe brain injuries due to substandard care.
A “bullying and toxic” workplace culture was also identified, which reportedly discouraged staff from raising concerns. Ockenden specifically noted that a small number of influential leaders had “infected the unit.”
Commitment to Change and Accountability
“Anyone who's in the room yesterday, as I was, would have been shocked and upset and although Donna has kept us up to date with her findings as she has gone along, it was still shocking and upsetting.”
Anthony May, Chief Executive, NUH NHS Trust
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, May reiterated his renewed dedication to improvement, acknowledging the profound impact of the families' courage in repeatedly sharing their experiences. He stressed the importance of engaging with both the report's findings and the affected families to ensure effective problem resolution.
The trust plans to implement all immediate and essential actions, many of which were previously communicated during the review process. As an example, May mentioned that NUH had already implemented Martha's Rule in its maternity services, making it one of the first in the country to do so.
Calls for Broader Inquiry and Consequences for Non-Cooperation
A Learning and Improvement Board will be chaired by Labour MP Michelle Welsh, who experienced birth trauma at the trust in 2020. Some affected families have renewed their calls for a statutory public inquiry into maternity services nationwide, emphasizing the need for individual accountability among staff and executives.
Natalie and David Needham, whose son Kouper died shortly after discharge in July 2019, expressed that despite years of advocacy, the report's findings remained deeply impactful and shocking. Felicity Benyon, who suffered the incorrect removal of her bladder during an emergency hysterectomy, highlighted that senior leadership and governance teams were aware of issues through internal and external investigations, repeated complaints from mothers, and whistleblowing staff, yet “didn't do enough.”
The report indicated that while 37 of 66 former and current senior colleagues approached by the trust's chief executive participated in interviews for Ockenden's review, a number declined. In response, the government announced that as part of the extension of Martha's Rule, any NHS staff, past or present, who refuse to cooperate with future reviews could face up to two years in prison.
May affirmed the trust's commitment to accountability, noting that all current senior executives at NUH engaged with Ockenden's review. He acknowledged that those who had left the organization might have made different choices regarding their participation.
Source: NHS boss 'shocked and upset' by Nottingham maternity findings