Inquiry finally launched into maternity services following Nottingham baby deaths

It was announced recently that an independent inquiry will finally examine maternity care at hospitals overseen by the Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, which are currently rated 'inadequate' by the CQC (Care Quality Commission.

The external review will investigate 30 baby deaths and 46 cases where babies were left permanently brain damaged since 2016.

Patient safety minister Nadine Dorries, who announced the review, has also agreed to meet local MPs regarding ongoing concerns about the safety of maternity services at the hospitals.

Families have welcomed the review, but say they must be fully involved in setting its terms of reference and ensuring it is truly independent.

Several families have faced a lack of transparency from the trust following mistakes in care, with key medical notes missing or inaccurate and failures to investigate serious incidents and reports watered down.

A group of Nottinghamshire MPs twice wrote to health secretary Matt Hancock earlier this year raising poor care at the trust, without receiving a response.

I am currently running three cases against Nottingham University Hospitals Trust: one stillbirth, one baby brain-injured and one involving injury to the mother during maternity care. It is disheartening to see the same issues arising repeatedly, and that at the same Trust.

This inquiry has been a long time coming, and I hope that a thorough and meaningful investigation is carried out to prevent further avoidable cases.

Read more about our birth injury cases and how to begin a birth injury claim.