Donna Ockenden presented findings Wednesday that linked poor maternity care to hundreds of deaths and serious injuries at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust [1].
The report highlights systemic failures within the English healthcare system, signaling a critical need for oversight in maternity services to prevent future patient harm.
Ockenden, a former senior midwife, said the findings during a live speech on June 24, 2026 [1, 2]. The review focused on the quality of care provided at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, where the investigation identified hundreds of deaths and serious injuries [1].
Families affected by these failures shared accounts of heartbreak over baby deaths during the proceedings [2]. The findings suggest that the scale of the failures was extensive, impacting a significant number of patients, and their families over a period of time.
Because the review identifies a high volume of adverse outcomes, the results place the Trust under intense scrutiny. The findings underscore a pattern of poor care that resulted in severe physical harm and loss of life [1].
Ockenden's presentation serves as the culmination of a lengthy review into the Trust's maternity services. The evidence presented indicates that the failures were not isolated incidents but were linked to broader issues in how the Trust managed maternity care [1].
Health officials and the Trust are now expected to address these findings. The report provides a detailed account of the injuries and fatalities that occurred under the Trust's supervision [1].
“hundreds of deaths and serious injuries”
The Ockenden review represents a significant indictment of clinical governance at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. By documenting hundreds of deaths and serious injuries, the report moves the conversation from individual clinical errors to a systemic failure of safety protocols. This will likely trigger mandatory reforms in maternity oversight across the NHS to ensure that similar patterns of negligence are identified and corrected before they lead to widespread fatalities.
