- Inquiry findings reveal 155 babies may have survived with better care.
- About 2,500 families were affected by the massive NHS maternity scandal.
- Families are demanding a statutory public inquiry to ensure full accountability.
The Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has offered apologies after findings from the largest maternity scandal in NHS history became public. Data shows 155 infants might have lived if care was better, and 105 suffered serious harm. 520 cases were flagged as grade 2 or 3 for care concerns.
Grade 2 indicates sub-optimal care where different management might have shifted outcomes, whereas grade 3 means different management was reasonably expected to make a difference. The Trust is committed to improvements but the statistics hide families whose lives were changed forever by these failures.
Care failings led to numerous preventable infant deaths
Sarah and Jack Hawkins lost their daughter, Harriet, in 2016 after intervention was repeatedly delayed. A review called her death « almost certainly preventable ». Ockenden stated the tragedy was compounded by a systemic cover-up and investigations designed to mislead the parents.
Gary and Sarah Andrews lost Wynter in 2019 who died 23 minutes after a C-section. Warning signs were missed, and a clinician told Gary that listening to every mother would leave the hospital overrun. Multiple missed opportunities were spotted by staff during a later inquest.
Natalie Needham’s son, Kouper died of respiratory issues at 24 hours old. She believes her concerns were dismissed because she already had four children. She stated, « We are fighting so much to make sure things are put into place to make it right ».
Carly Wesson and Carl Everson terminated a pregnancy after a false positive for Patau’s Syndrome. They were told six weeks later the results had changed. When asking if their daughter would have survived, a doctor remarked, « Well, you could have miscarried anyway ».
Felicity Benyon suffered lifelong injuries when doctors mistakenly removed her bladder during a hysterectomy. She demanded that recommendations be implemented. Hayley Coates’ son, Kaylan, died from an infection after suffering a fractured skull and oxygen deprivation during a difficult labour.
Kim Errington’s son, Teddy, died at one day old due to « undoubted failings » regarding blood sugar monitoring. A public inquiry is massively important to ensure accountability. Michelle Welsh, now an MP, felt unheard during her own delayed C-section in 2020.
