Nottingham maternity scandal set to be largest in NHS – as ‘disregarded’ households demand apology
The variety of deaths and accidents to new child infants and moms in Nottingham is ready to be the largest maternity scandal within the NHS.
More than 1,700 circumstances of doable hurt are actually being examined at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The impartial midwife main the investigation, Donna Ockenden, has advised Sky News: “I’ve seen an terrible lot of proof that native Nottinghamshire households have been merely not listened to.
“They have been disregarded, they have been pushed away and the door was closed. And with that tradition studying goes to be misplaced.”
Addressing a public assembly that was attended by bereaved households, the chair of the belief admitted sufferers had been let down.
Nick Carver mentioned: “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 prompted extra ache, and this should change.
“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 households who we’ve got had the possibility to fulfill have advised us they need a significant apology, that they recognise as assembly their wants, together with accountability and a change within the tradition. We will work with them and different households to make that occur.”
Donna Ockenden mentioned households have been ‘merely not listened to’
Families ‘by no means introduced their child house’
Updating the assembly on the progress of the investigation by her group of specialists, Ms Ockenden mentioned: “I know there are families who never brought their baby home.
“Or infants who did come house, however died very shortly afterwards.
“And I know that there are little boys and girls out there in Nottinghamshire today without their mummy as we all celebrate the end of the school year.
“I do know there are ladies dwelling with life altering hurt. And how do I do know that that is true? Because I’ve met these households.”
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Sarah Hawkins, whose daughter Harriet was stillborn at Nottingham City Hospital in 2016, has been among the many mother and father who’ve helped uncover the size of failings on the belief.
“We’re talking about empty car seats, we’re talking about tiny white coffins, you know and this was all preventable,” she advised Sky News.
“I feel basically we haven’t been able to grieve Harriet, it’s just been this continuous fight. And also it’s just emotional as well.”
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Ms Hawkins added: “Today it’s a bittersweet moment.
“I’m hopeful that what they are saying is true and the brick wall will come down and they’re going to hearken to households.
“I’m holding on to that hope but I’m also holding onto the hope of seeing some action from those words too.”