Fresh concerns raised about Nottingham hospitals as review chief highlights racism and delays

Fresh concerns over racism and long waits for answers at Nottingham hospitals have been raised by the chair of a review into maternity care. More than 1,800 families are part of an ongoing independent review into hundreds of baby deaths and injuries at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) – the biggest in NHS history.

A separate criminal investigation into the trust, which runs the Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital, was announced by Nottinghamshire Police in September. In her latest correspondence with the leaders of NUH, review chair Donna Ockenden said there appeared to be a “long-term and very entrenched problem of discrimination and lack of inclusion” in maternity care.

The senior midwife said translation and interpretation services also remained at a “very poor” level. NUH chief executive Anthony May said it was “upsetting to hear” some of the experiences but said the trust was taking action.

Families wishing to contact the independent review can do so by emailing [email protected] or by filling out an online form here

In a letter to Mr May on December 19, Ms Ockenden included examples of racism and discrimination faced by families. One mother who had just lost her pregnancy described a member of staff mimicking her accent, voice and mannerisms, she said.

“Instead of being reprimanded, other members of staff who the mother believed were senior were laughing at the behaviour of their colleague. [Another] mother described a bedsheet ‘being thrown at me’ by a member of staff after she had repeatedly asked for help to change a bloodstained bed.”

Ms Ockenden said a mother also “described ‘dirty looks’ because of the way she dressed”. She added: “Women and their husbands have reported to me that non-white mothers are spoken to more rudely and in a more dismissive way than their white counterparts.”

In a letter of response dated February 22, Mr May said: “I am disappointed to hear that women and families have experienced discriminatory behaviour. This is contrary to our values and beliefs, and I take it very seriously.”

He said staff training to raise awareness of different cultures and needs was underway and expected to be evaluated in the summer. In her letter, Ms Ockenden said there were long lengths of time elapsing from concerns being raised by families to receiving any kind of response from the trust.

She cited an example of one family waiting a year for answers about their case. “We both agree that families should not have to repeatedly follow up with the trust, searching for answers which only compounds the distress they are, in all likelihood already experiencing,” she wrote.

The Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham

A father described maternity staff as “constantly on their phones, more interested in their phones than giving care”, according to Ms Ockenden. She also raised concerns over translation services, describing them as “very poor” for Romanian speakers.

Families said the discharge information video, which covers vital issues such as ‘safe sleeping’ for babies, was only in English. Ms Ockenden said this needed to be urgently checked by the trust.

Mr May said the trust was considering alternative options to improve translation experiences and had secured funding for a new app. He added: “I extend my apologies to families experiencing long delays as a result of raising concerns. We are committed to addressing issues identified from feedback and incidents so as to prevent harm and distress.”

Giving an update on the review on Wednesday, February 28, Ms Ockenden said the number of families involved was likely to rise to nearly 1,900, with a further 720 staff contacting the inquiry. The review will examine stillbirths, neonatal deaths, baby injuries and maternal deaths and injuries since 2012.

Another 399 maternity experiences which fall outside the terms of reference will also be looked at separately. “I wrote to Anthony May explaining my concerns that women were still experiencing poor care, poor communication, racism and discrimination,” Ms Ockenden said. “I think the trust are absolutely committed to onward learning and improvement as this review progresses, which I hope is of comfort to local residents that we’re not waiting for some great big report to land.”

Responding to families concerns that the review’s findings won’t be acted on by the trust, she said: “I can reassure the families that the trust have to listen. It’s not a review whose findings can be or will be ignored.

“As chair I won’t stand by and allow any indifference towards our findings.” The review is expected to be completed in September 2025 and is open to hear of experiences until three months prior.

Families wishing to contact the review can do so by emailing [email protected] or by filling out an online form here

Staff can contact the review by emailing [email protected]