Arabic version: العائلات تطالب بالعدالة قبل إصدار مراجعة رئيسية لرعاية الأمومة

Families affected by maternity failings at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust are calling for a statutory public inquiry ahead of the release of a landmark maternity report. This review, the largest of its kind in NHS history, is set to detail extensive failings that have led to preventable deaths and harm among newborns.

According to BBC News, Sarah and Jack Hawkins, whose daughter Harriet was stillborn in 2016, have been vocal advocates for accountability. They were among the first families to highlight serious issues at the trust, which has faced significant scrutiny since then. The review, led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, is due to be published on Wednesday.

The review has seen contributions from approximately 2,500 families and over 800 staff members since its initiation in September 2022. It comes alongside a police investigation, known as Operation Perth, which has already led to arrests related to misconduct in the trust’s mortuary services.

Jack Hawkins expressed his frustration regarding the systemic issues, stating, “How on earth have we allowed it that there are 1,000 avoidable baby deaths in this country every year and, in a particular place, there are this many schools’ worth of children missing or damaged beyond belief, and dead mums and damaged mums?” He emphasized the need for accountability and change within the NHS to prevent further tragedies.

The trust has already faced significant financial repercussions, including a £1.6 million fine over the deaths of three babies in 2021. Families like the Hawkins and the Andrews, who also suffered the loss of their daughter Wynter shortly after birth, are urging that this report serves as a catalyst for necessary reforms in maternity care, insisting that such failures must not continue unchecked.