Nottingham maternity services still investigating 61 serious incidents

Health chiefs at maternity units in Nottingham are dealing with a backlog of 61 ‘serious incident’ investigations dating back to 2019.

 

The term is used to describe unintended or unexpected events that could cause patients harm and the news comes as a review team led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden examines dozens of baby deaths at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust.

 

Twelve of the incidents involve neonatal deaths, stillbirths, maternal deaths or severe brain injury in babies.

 

NUH said it intended to complete the investigations within 60 days.

 

Sharon Wallis, the trust’s head of midwifery, told a recent board meeting “We have a significant number of serious incidents.  We have a cluster being reviewed.  We have support from the regional team to try to get through the backlog.

 

“We need to understand where things have gone wrong and learn lessons for families.  I have personally spoken to one of the women involved and apologised profusely, because it isn’t good enough.”

 

Dr Keith Girling, medical director at the trust, added “We are sorry to those people where there has been any form of incident during their care.

 

“We acknowledge we have a backlog of cases and we are committed to ensuring that there is regular contact with families to keep them updated on the progress of the investigation.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s team of medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record.  The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of medical negligence.  He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in medical negligence claims.  Tony also acts as a Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled.  Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk.  Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist medical negligence Legal Aid and no win, no fee solicitors for free legal advice on Freephone 0800 304 7382