Previously the Trust’s maternity provision was rated as ‘inadequate’, and they are currently the subject of the largest review into maternity provision and safety in the UK (the Ockenden Review) and also subject to a criminal investigation by Nottinghamshire Police.
As of 13 September 2023, the rating for maternity services at NUH has been categorised by the CQC as ‘requires improvement’. Whilst this reflects that progress is being made locally, it should not detract from the 1,800 families involved directly in the Review who have suffered loss, trauma and damage.
Julie Walker, Consultant in the Serious Injury Team at Rothera Bray Solicitors said ‘I have no doubt that pregnant women across Nottingham will be feel some sense of relief following today’s findings. However, there is still so much more progress which needs to be made, and lessons must be learnt. For those families who have already suffered tragedy or life-changing injuries due to mismanagement or neglect by the Trust, these improvements will feel like only the tip of the iceberg, and they must be followed up with continuing improvements and progress in the safety of mothers and babies locally’.
Part of the reasoning behind the ‘requires improvement’ ranking was that the CQC found that there are still not ‘enough substantive staff to care for women to keep them safe’. It also found that not all risks are identified and acted upon in a timely manner, risks of infection are not always being dealt with by using best practice methods, and the Trust is not always complying with its statutory responsibility for duty of candour meaning that families are not always being informed in an open and honest way of failings which are known to have taken place. This echoes many of the complaints of families who have given evidence as part of the review.
Improvements identified by the CQC included staff being able to identify and protect women from abuse, women being treated with care, being given enough to eat and drink, and being given effective pain relief when required. However, there is much more work to be done, and no doubt the Ockenden Review, when published, will shed further light on that.
Press enquiries to:
Greg Almond – Head of Serious Injury Team
Direct Tel: 0115 9106230
Julie Walker – Consultant in Serious Injury Team
Support
Other avenues of support are available at:
Baby loss:
https://www.tommys.org/baby-loss-support
https://www.sands.org.uk/support-you
Bereavement support:
Support for NHS staff:
https://www.ockendenmaternityreview.org.uk/support-for-staff/
