NHS Maternity Review Covering Nearly 2,500 Families Set for Release

The largest maternity review in NHS history will be published today after examining care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust from April 2012 to May 2025. Nearly 2,500 families submitted evidence to the review, which was led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden and also drew statements from more than 800 staff members.

The review assessed how hundreds of babies died or were injured during births at Nottingham City Hospital and the Queen's Medical Centre. It is expected to outline specific failings that contributed to deaths and avoidable harm.

The trust has already paid millions of pounds in compensation and fines, including a £1.6 million penalty tied to three baby deaths in 2021. Nottinghamshire Police opened a corporate manslaughter investigation in June 2025 under Operation Perth. On Monday, police confirmed the first two arrests under the operation.

Two men aged 55 and 59 were detained on suspicion of misconduct in a public office related to mortuary practices and later released on bail with strict conditions.

The General Medical Council is reviewing 62 cases involving doctors at the trust, while the Nursing and Midwifery Council is examining 96 cases involving midwives. The Nursing and Midwifery Council has placed one midwife under an interim order preventing practice.

The General Medical Council is also assessing more than 300 information reports received from the review team. A separate police investigation into individual conduct continues alongside these regulatory reviews.