Ockenden report live: major NHS maternity review finds hundreds of deaths and serious injuries at ‘toxic’ trust

The Ockenden report found that over 500 mothers and babies suffered harm or died due to inadequate care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust (NUH). The inquiry, led by childbirth expert Donna Ockenden, revealed that 444 women and 76 newborn babies experienced "potentially avoidable" outcomes over a 13-year period because of substandard treatment. The report describes the trust's environment as "toxic" and highlights a significant number of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths, and instances where babies or mothers sustained brain damage and other serious injuries. These findings represent the largest ever maternity scandal investigated within the NHS, detailing failures in care that had devastating consequences for numerous families. The review meticulously examined cases of poor practice, emphasizing the need for systemic change within maternity services to prevent future tragedies. The scale of the reported harm underscores critical deficiencies in patient safety and clinical governance at the trust.