Hospital bosses discuss 'meaningful' apology to families caught up in UK's biggest maternity scandal

An inquiry into baby deaths at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is expected to uncover the biggest maternity scandal in the history of the NHS.

Donna Ockenden, who is leading the inquiry, is poised to investigate hundreds more cases after NHS England wrote to affected families agreeing cases would be dealt with on an opt-out basis, with families having to opt out of giving consent.

At a board meeting today, families and hospital bosses are discussing how and when an apology from the Trust should be made.

The Chair of NUH, Nick Carver, says after discussions with families, an apology will be made "at the right time the families recognise as being meaningful."

Following the meeting, some of the families involved said their were pleased with progress made.

In a statement, the NUHT Family group said; "We welcome today’s pledge from the Trust for a ‘new honest and transparent relationship’ with a sense of relief and optimism. For too long we have been fighting to be not just heard, but for action to be taken, and for there to be accountability. We deserve to learn who knew what and when; why it was allowed to continue; and how the Trust avoided scrutiny for so long.

"We are so relieved our concerns were right and have been publicly acknowledged, yet we are heartbroken with this reality. What’s clear, is that the Trust now fully accepts that their failures have resulted in devastating damage to families across Nottinghamshire. For that we are grateful, but we need to see continuing action for there to be long lasting improvements.”

• The scandal at the NUHT is the 'worst in NHS history'

Ms Ockenden, who along with a team of senior clinicians began her review in September 2022, said in May that more than 1,250 families and 650 staff had contacted the review to express concerns about the trust’s care practices.

She has previously called for more people to contact the review, stressing that it was "vital" that women from a range of ethnic and social backgrounds came forward.

Ms Ockenden, who has led a similar review into maternity care at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, has already shared key findings with NUH to ensure mistakes are avoided.

Some families, including those whose children died due to failings, demanded a public apology from the trust at a closed meeting in May.

The trust said earlier this month it would "commit to working collaboratively to plan for an apology on behalf of the board that the families recognise as meaningful" in Monday’s meeting.

Ms Ockenden’s previous review in Shrewsbury and Telford used the "opt-out" approach to include the majority of affected families.

Nick Carver, the chair of NUH, said: "For too long we have failed to listen to women and families who have been affected by failings in our maternity services.

"This 'brick wall' has caused additional pain, and this must change."

He added: "Families should not have to fight to get the answers they deserve and we are committed to gaining their trust, and the trust of all our communities by listening and engaging with them.

"Some families, who we have had the chance to meet, have told us they want a meaningful apology that they recognise as meeting their needs, including accountability and a change in the culture.

"We will work with them and other families to make that happen.

"We recognise there will be families who haven't had the chance to come forward yet and we will want their views on how we go about putting things right for them too.

"We agree with the families when they tell us that engagement with them will help us make sustainable improvements to our maternity services." 

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