Families affected by failures in maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust meet with Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid (4th May 2022)

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Today, four representatives from a group of families affected by unsafe maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust met with the Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid. 

The meeting came one month after the group wrote to him expressing their concerns over the flaws and inadequacies of the current ‘independent thematic review’ being conducted. In their letter (6^th April) to Sajid Javid, they called for him to appoint Donna Ockenden to lead a new “truly independent review”, and for there to a Public Inquiry into maternity services at NUHT. 

The families have, this afternoon, also been advised, by Sir David Sloman the COO at NHS England and NHS Improvement that Julie Dent CBE has “for personal reasons, decided not to proceed as Chair of the Independent Review of maternity services as NUHT.” 

NHS England and NHS Improvement
Letter to Families, 4th May 2022

It is not yet known who will take over the review and the families remain of the opinion that

Donna Ockenden should be appointed to conduct a new independent review into maternity services at NUHT, just as she had successfully done at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. 

Commenting on this meeting the families said, 

“We are grateful to Sajid Javid for meeting with us today and for taking a personal interest in our campaign for better maternity services in Nottingham. 

It is the first time that families have been properly listened to by senior healthcare professionals since Jack and Sarah Hawkins originally whistle blew the problems in maternity care at NUHT back in 2016. 

Today feels like the first significant step towards ensuring the protection of babies and mothers from death and harm in the future. Over the coming weeks we plan on sharing with the Health Secretary detailed information of the significant public scrutiny that has taken place over many years, from varying sources which demonstrate that NUHT have shown themselves incapable of change, which is why a proper independent review must be conducted leading to a full public inquiry.” 

Those representing the families at the meeting were:

1. Dr Jack Hawkins, whose daughter, Harriet, died intrapartum in April 2016 and who, along with his wife Sarah, began their own investigations and whistle blew the gross failures in maternity care at NUHT.
2. Mrs Sarah Andrews, whose daughter, Wynter, was born and died at Nottingham City Hospital in September 2019. She had been told that she was in latent labour when in fact it was established. Over a period of several days, she underwent several examinations and consultations with medical staff at the hospital. Despite clear signs that she was in established labour and a worrying CTG result, Sarah’s labour was allowed to continue without adequate progression. Eventually a decision was made to carry out a caesarean however the catalogue of errors meant that it was too late to deliver Wynter safely, and she died shortly after being delivered.
3. Ryan Parker, whose son, Quinn, was born on 14^th July 2021 and who died on 16^th July 2021 at Nottingham City Hospital. The Inquest into Quinn’s death finished on 29^th April 2022 and the Conclusion is due to be handed down on 11^th May.
4. Felicity Benyon, a mum whose bladder was cut out during a caesarean section at Queen’s Medical Centre and who has been left with a permanent urostomy bag. 

Suzanne Munroe, Head of Clinical Negligence at Switalskis Solicitors whose firm represent many families affected by the failures in care at NUHT, said “We are pleased that today’s meeting has taken place and we continue to support the families in their quest for change.”

Image: Official portrait for Sajid Javid.
Author: UK Parliament. 
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