Ockenden Review Links 260 Baby Deaths or Injuries to NUH Failings, Driven by 2 Families
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 27
Ockenden Review Links 260 Baby Deaths or Injuries to NUH Failings, Driven by 2 Families
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 27
Summary
260 babies died or were seriously injured at Nottingham University Hospitals because of “deep-rooted, systemic and sustained” maternity failings, Donna Ockenden’s review said.
Two couples — Jack and Sarah Hawkins, and Gary and Sarah Andrews — were central to triggering the inquiry after finding striking parallels between the deaths of Harriet in 2016 and Wynter in 2019.
Harriet’s external review found 13 care failings and said her death was almost certainly preventable; Wynter’s inquest found multiple missed opportunities, and NUH was later fined £800,000 after pleading guilty to care failures.
Their campaigning helped gather nearly 600 families, win political backing and force an independent review in 2022 after they rejected a narrower, less independent process.
NUH has apologized and promised action, but Ockenden said services are improved yet still short of where they need to be; the wider review found 520 potentially avoidable maternal and baby outcomes.
After a decade of failures, will any Nottingham hospital leaders face criminal charges for the deaths of 155 babies?
As whistleblowers describe a 'horrific' cover-up, how can expectant parents trust that their concerns will be heard?
The Ockenden Review: 500 Mothers and Babies Failed by Nottingham NHS Trust—A National Maternity Scandal Unveiled
Overview
The Ockenden Review, published in June 2026 and led by Donna Ockenden, exposed deep and long-standing failures in maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The report revealed a culture where patient safety was often ignored, and staff routinely failed to listen to women’s concerns, especially those from Black, Asian, and other minority backgrounds, as well as teenage and deprived mothers. These systemic problems led to significant harm and distress for hundreds of families. The review’s findings have prompted urgent calls for reform, accountability, and lasting change to ensure safer, more compassionate care for all mothers and babies.