Nottingham University Hospitals Review and Investigation

In 2016, Harriet Hawkins died as a consequence of negligence by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Her parents Dr Jack Hawkins and Sarah Hawkins, who were both employees of the Trust, were deeply concerned about the care they received and the issues brought to their attention during that time. They whistle blew.

Promises were made to them by the Trust that any failures would not be repeated and that the Trust would learn from their mistakes. An admission of liability for causing Harriet’s death took an awful long time to come to fruition needlessly.

Three years later in September 2019, Wynter Andrews died in very similar circumstances to Harriet and it became apparent that this was not a coincidence. In fact, both parents believe that had lessons been learned and real change implemented between 2016 and 2019 then Wynter would be alive now.

What is striking is not simply the complete lack of improvement in the provision of care, but also how the Trust treated the whistle-blowers, who bravely shared their experience, to their own detriment to try and save other babies and other families.

What unfolded over the following years to date has been nothing short of a battle for more families who have joined with Harriet and Wynter’s parents to share their stories of loss and damage of their precious babies to try and bring about the changes that are so desperately needed.

Now in 2023, through the Ockenden Review, over 1,700 families have been identified as their care falling within the categories set out by the Review requiring investigation. 1,700 families spanning 10 years (2012 – 2022). For perspective, the Review in Shrewsbury spanned 20 years with 1,500 families identified.

These numbers are staggering, and now, unless any families ‘opt out’ of having their care investigated as part of the Review, all families’ care will be investigated. This is huge. Huge in numbers and huge in progress in the pursuance of improved care.

Natalie Cosgrove, who has worked with affected families for over five years, says: “There are so many facets here where the Trust has failed many families, and they need to be vulnerable and to allow change, real change to happen and not talk, but act. Real changes that will support and protect babies and their families in the future.

“Families are hopeful that the recent promises of an honest and transparent relationship with the Chair of the Board and the CEO of the Trust helps to bring vital change needed in maternity care at the Trust. This has to be the aim, to make it safe for families to deliver at the trust and not simply for public relations purposes.

“Far too many families have been seriously let down in the past, and whilst they come to terms with their loss, which is often impossible in itself, they now navigate this Review process, fully committed to its aims, often included when this is their first recognition of concerns regarding their care. All they have now is the blind hope that those who made promises to the Hawkins family in 2016 have had a complete change of perspective and that the effort and commitment of the families, the staff who bravely came forward (even in the light of what has happened before them), and Donna Ockenden and her team are not in vain.”

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