Have you been affected by poor maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH)?
We are representing some of the core families and have extensive knowledge and experience with cases against NUH and the wider investigations into the Trust for over 8 years.
Call Ison Harrison solicitors today for a FREE no-obligation chat on 0113 284 5000 or email clinneg@isonharrison.co.uk
Serious failings identified within the maternity services in Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) led to a review commissioned by the NHS England. As one of the largest maternity hospitals in the UK, numerous families have been affected and may be in need of support.
Maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) have been rated as inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) since 2020.
Following subsequent inspections, the Trust’s maternity services have continued to face significant regulatory concerns, with the CQC identifying ongoing issues including staffing, leadership, patient safety and the quality of care provided to women and babies. Inspectors found that services did not always have enough suitably qualified and experienced staff to keep women and babies safe from avoidable harm and deliver appropriate care.
What is the Ockenden maternity review?
The Independent Review of Maternity Services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust was commissioned by NHS England in 2022 following longstanding concerns raised by families about the quality and safety of maternity care.
The Review was led by independent maternity expert Donna Ockenden and an experienced team of clinicians from across England. It examined cases involving serious concerns, including maternal deaths, stillbirths, neonatal deaths and incidents where mothers and babies suffered severe harm. The Review also heard directly from more than 2,500 families and over 800 members of staff to understand both individual experiences and wider cultural and organisational issues within the Trust.
Publication of the final report
The final Ockenden Review was published on 24 June 2026. It concluded that there had been significant and longstanding failures in maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, identifying systemic issues relating to leadership, staffing, culture, communication, clinical practice and the Trust’s response to concerns raised by women and families.
The Review made a series of local and national recommendations aimed at improving maternity safety, strengthening accountability, ensuring women and families are listened to, and driving improvements across NHS maternity services. Donna Ockenden and her team will continue to oversee the implementation of the recommendations at the Trust.
Operation Perth, the police investigation into criminal charges against the Trust and Individuals, is ongoing.
Making a maternity and birth injury claim
The birth of a child is often considered one of the happiest moments of your life, however this is not always the case and mothers, babies and family members can be left with physical and mental birth injuries. Some are temporary and others are permanent, lasting a lifetime. Injuries can happen before, during or after the delivery of a baby.
If you or a loved one have sustained an injury as a result of maternity care at the NUH or have been contacted to participate in the review, we can support you and your family to get the answers you need to understand what went wrong.
Injury to a child
We understand from years of experience how life-changing it can be when a child suffers a birth injury and how vital it is to have access to compensation to provide for your child’s needs now and in the future. Obtaining the right level of compensation can ensure your child is able to access therapy, equipment, care, suitable accommodation, or all of those things and more.
Our specialist team will ensure we help you obtain everything needed to give you peace of mind, and your child financial security for the future.
Injuries can include:
- Birth injuries to the mother
- Birth injuries to the child (Cerebral Palsy, Erb’s Palsy, brain injuries, infection, fractures)
- Stillbirth
- Neonatal Death (neonatal death is when a baby dies within the first 28 days of life)
- Maternal Death
Still Birth, Neonatal or Maternal Death
Losing a loved one is difficult in any circumstance, however losing a partner or child during or shortly after pregnancy can be extremely traumatic. What is expected to be a happy and exciting situation can suddenly change and you may find yourself feeling alone with lots of unanswered questions.
When a loved one has died no amount of money is ever going to bring them back, however we may be able to investigate a claim to help you understand what happened and hopefully raise standards to that no one else has to go through what has happened to you.
This is a complex area of law and one of our specialty areas. Our team will deal with your enquiry in a sensitive manner and provide you with free legal advice. Our solicitor, Sadie Simpson, has specialist neonatal death inquest experience having represented a number of Nottingham families at inquest.
Ison Harrison Solicitors
Please contact our specialist team of Medical Negligence Solicitors if you would like to discuss your maternity experience at the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) or Nottingham City Hospital.
Why Choose Us?
We are currently representing two of the core families whose determination for truth and answers enabled the review’s existence. We have extensive knowledge and experience with cases against NUH and the wider investigations into the Trust.
We will fight hard to ensure that all avenues are explored, and you get the answers you deserve. At Ison Harrison we put you, the client at the heart of everything we do in order to support you when you need us the most.
Read our case study below about a previous maternity claim at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The hospital denied liability in full. Following further investigations and lengthy negotiations, our clinical negligence solicitors were able to agree a settlement in the sum of £350,000.
Support Resources
If you, your baby or a loved one has suffered harm during pregnancy or child birth, the following organisations may be able to offer further support:
