Call for public enquiry into Nottingham trust’s maternity services

Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) is facing a review following reports that 19 babies were stillborn and 46 suffered brain damage in the ten years between 2010 and 2020.

Sue Saddingham, chairman of the health scrutiny committee of the county council, said she had put the request personally to Health Secretary Sajid Javid, saying that the issue needed “urgent attention”.

A report published in 2020 by the Care Quality Commission labelled the units inadequate, highlighting low staffing, poor management, and fears over the standard of care at the maternity units at the Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital.

Ms Saddingham said following her meeting with Mr Javid, “I am pleased to say that our concerns have been put in a letter to the Health Secretary and, at a recent event, he assured both myself and Councillor Barney that this would be referred to the Health Minister and dealt with accordingly.

“The maternity services issue at NUH is one we feel needs urgent attention and I am delighted that the Health Minister will be looking into it immediately and responding to our public inquiry request.

A spokesperson from the trust said “We are doing everything in our power to ensure the families using our maternity services get the best possible care and we are fully co-operating with the ongoing independent review, commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement and the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said “Patient safety is a top priority and we are aware of the concerns raised about Nottingham University Hospital Trust’s maternity services.

“The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) has carried out investigations at the Trust as part of its maternity investigation programme, and plans are being put in place to address these concerns.”

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