Police prepared to consider criminal investigations over maternity failings at Nottingham hospitals
Senior midwife Donna Ockenden's looking into the experiences of around 1700 families.
Last updated 12th Jul 2023
Nottinghamshire Police say they are prepared to consider if any criminal investigations are needed at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust as part of the Ockenden review into baby deaths and injuries at its maternity units.
The experiences of around 1,700 families dating back several years are being looked at as part of the independent probe into the care of mothers and babies at the Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital.
Nottinghamshire Police’s Chief Constable Kate Meynell attended the trust’s annual public meeting on Monday, which heard from several bereaved families.
The meeting heard Notts Police are planning to begin sharing information with the review team for the first time.
The review is being led by experienced midwife and healthcare expert Donna Ockenden.
Following the meeting Ms Meynell issued a statement providing more detail on the nature of any police involvement.
She said: “I am aware of the ongoing review into the trust’s maternity services and as Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police, it is important I am aware of the work being undertaken by the review.
“I will continue to work alongside Donna Ockenden, Chair of the Independent Review into Maternity Services at NUH, in the event any criminal investigations are necessary.
“I recognise the utterly devastating heartbreak that families and parents have gone through and continue to deal with every single day. I assure you that my officers will carry out thorough and detailed investigations should any criminal details come to light.”
Ms Ockenden ran a previous maternity investigation at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust which found that more than 200 babies and nine mothers died while under the care of the trust.
West Mercia Police later launched ‘Operation Lincoln’ to look at any potential criminal prosecutions arising from maternity care there.
Ms Meynell added: “After attending Monday’s meeting and hearing the Chief Executive speaking to those there and directly to the families affected, I felt reassured about the review that is being carried out.”
Chief Executive Anthony May told bereaved parents during the meeting on Monday: “What I hope we can do from now is to work with you and Donna and the CQC (Care Quality Commission) to identify any wrongdoing, past present or future, and to deal with it in an open and transparent way.
“If anything comes forward during the course of Donna’s review that she wants to bring to my attention, I know that she would not hold back in doing so.”
It comes after the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and the trust have agreed to change the review from ‘opt-in’ to ‘opt-out’.
This means the review will cover 1,700 cases and families will have to withdraw consent if they do not want their experiences to be examined.