National maternity review will not ‘sideline’ Nottingham probe, pledges chair

Concerns Donna Ockenden’s findings could be sidelined, followed ministers announcing in September that the national maternity review’s recommendations would “supersede the multiple existing actions and recommendations already in place”.

While Ms Ockenden’s Nottingham University Hospitals Trust inquiry began in 2022, it is not due to report until June. And a spokesman for the Nottingham families toldHSJ this week that they had heard “credible rumours of an attempt to minimise and overshadow” the review.

The government’s national review, led by Baroness Valerie Amos – which this week published a call for evidence  – is due in the spring.

Ministers also said that “Baroness Amos and her team will draw on [previous reviews] to create one clear, national set of actions to improve care across the country”.

In response to the concerns about the status of her independent inquiry, Ms Ockenden said: “I cannot see any reason why anyone who has any understanding of maternity services would even be thinking of sidelining Nottingham.

“Nottingham is the largest ever inquiry into a single service in the history of the NHS. We, as a review team, have worked with diligence with families across Nottinghamshire.”

She added: “While I can see no reason to sideline an independent review of such crucial importance, equally I’m utterly determined on behalf of the people of Nottinghamshire and the families involved that my report, their report, will not be sidelined.”

A statement from the Nottingham affected families group added: “Baroness Amos has said herself that her rapid review will provide the national maternity recommendations, which is an impossibility given the rushed and superficial nature of the work.

“Any attempts to sideline or minimise the largest maternity scandal in NHS history are an insult to our dead children and an attack on all of us that have been harmed or bereaved.”

They added: “Donna Ockenden’s Nottingham review is detailed and robust and will provide important answers for the entire maternity system.

“We have spent years fighting cover-ups and suppression, and we will not allow our children and families to be sidelined … by the so-called independent rapid review.”

Representatives for the Amos review, known officially as the national maternity and neonatal investigation, were asked to comment.

The Department of Health and Social Care said the Nottingham inquiry’s findings would be “integral to the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, which will incorporate learnings from investigations and reviews across the country”.

A DHSC spokesperson added: “We are incredibly grateful to all the Nottingham families who have bravely shared their stories, as we work together to identify and root out failures in the system. Both the secretary of state and Baroness Amos have met with the families many times and are determined to ensure their courage leads to lasting change.

“The review by the highly esteemed Donna Ockenden, commissioned by NHS England, will help provide answers and a clear way forward to improve services at the trust…

“Baroness Amos’ national investigation is designed to deliver results faster than a public national inquiry could do, by building on what we already know rather than starting from scratch. This government will not rest until women, babies, and families get the care they need.”