Introduction

The criminal investigation into maternity care failings at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUHT) is facing a delay, with the bulk of the investigative work now expected to begin in spring 2024.

Nottinghamshire Police announced the investigation in September following concerns over care provided to mothers and babies at the trust.

Preparatory Stages of Investigation

Assistant Chief Constable Robert Griffin outlined that the investigation is currently in its preparatory stages, focusing on establishing the necessary infrastructure to support the inquiry.

This includes determining the scope and scale of the investigation, ensuring adequate resources, and adopting a compassionate and professional approach.

Timeline Uncertainty

Griffin acknowledged that it is challenging to provide an exact start date for the investigative work due to the importance of setting up the appropriate framework to facilitate the inquiry.

As a result, no contact with affected families will be made before the spring of 2024.

Collaboration with Donna Ockenden’s Review

The police investigation will collaborate with Donna Ockenden’s independent review, which is already underway.

No identifiable information will be shared with Nottinghamshire Police without the consent of the affected families.

Commitment from NUHT

NUHT’s Chief Executive, Anthony May OBE, has expressed his commitment to fully cooperate with both the independent review and the police investigation.

The trust continues its engagement with families involved and is making improvements in maternity services, including staffing, training, compliance, record-keeping, and equipment provision.

Parallel Investigations

The criminal investigation runs alongside the review led by Donna Ockenden, which is set to become the largest maternity review in NHS history.

This comprehensive review will involve 1,800 families and approximately 700 staff members.