Nottingham Hospital Trust: Manslaughter Inquiry Launched | Hospitals
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust faces a corporate manslaughter investigation following serious failures in maternity care, potentially impacting 2,500 babies and women. Nottinghamshire Police are actively probing allegations of gross negligence within the trustS management. This inquiry, spurred by reports of deaths and harm, joins an independent review led by Donna Ockenden, examining over a decade of incidents at Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital. Families, including Jack and Sarah Hawkins, whose daughter’s stillbirth highlighted the scandal, seek accountability amidst the devastation. NUH leaders have expressed remorse, pledging full cooperation. News Directory 3 is following this story closely. Discover what’s next as the Ockenden review unfolds and the police investigation progresses, potentially leading to further legal action.
Corporate Manslaughter Investigation Launched at Nottingham NHS Trust Over Maternity Care
Nottinghamshire Police have launched a corporate manslaughter investigation into Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust following allegations of severe maternity care failures. The inquiry focuses on the deaths and harm potentially affecting more than 2,000 babies and women.
The police are reviewing over 200 cases, but that number could climb to 2,500. these cases are also under scrutiny by an independent review led by midwife Donna Ockenden, examining incidents over a decade at the Queen’s Medical Center and Nottingham city Hospital.
Detective Superintendent Matthew Croome stated the investigation will determine if NUH’s management was grossly negligent, leading to deaths. The focus is on organizational duty rather than individual actions.
Jack and Sarah Hawkins,who exposed the scandal after their daughter Harriet’s stillbirth in 2016,emphasized the need for individual accountability alongside the corporate investigation. They described their lives as “completely destroyed” by the trauma inflicted by NUH.
The Nottingham Affected Families Group expressed “mixed emotions,” welcoming the investigation but lamenting the years of ignored concerns. They believe lives could have been saved if their warnings had been heeded.
NUH leaders Nick Carver and Anthony May apologized for the “pain and suffering caused,” pledging full cooperation with the investigations. They acknowledged the need for greater openness and accountability.
Det Supt Matthew Croome said the alleged offences related to “circumstances where an organisation has been grossly negligent in the management of its activities, wich has then led to a person’s death”.
Dr Jack and Sarah Hawkins said: “Harriet should be nine years old. Our lives were completely destroyed by the unimaginable and repeated trauma at the hands of NUH.This investigation is just one piece of the jigsaw towards accountability.”
To date,NUH has been fined over £2.5 million for maternity care failures,including cases involving the deaths of multiple newborns. The trust has admitted to poor care in these instances.
What’s next
The Ockenden review is expected to conclude in the summer of 2026. The police investigation will run parallel, potentially leading to further legal action against the trust.