Nottinghamshire Police Arrest 2 Men Over NUH Mortuary Practices as Review Details 772-Day Baby Storage
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 18
Nottinghamshire Police Arrest 2 Men Over NUH Mortuary Practices as Review Details 772-Day Baby Storage
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 18
Summary
Two men, aged 55 and 59, were arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office over Nottingham University Hospitals' mortuary practices and remain on bail.
Donna Ockenden's review into post-death care examined 17 babies and one adult, finding repeated failures from 2008 to 2025, including one baby kept in the mortuary for 772 days and another wrongly released to funeral directors.
The report also described recent lapses, including a stillborn baby left in a labour-ward fridge for four days in 2024 and a mother in 2025 being told her baby was in a freezer and "would need to thaw."
Bereaved mother Natalie Needham said her trauma was compounded when NUH sent graphic post-mortem images of her son Kouper and an itemised cost breakdown after his 2019 death; the trust apologized and said the disclosure happened during a subject access request.
The arrests are part of Operation Perth and are separate from a corporate manslaughter investigation into NUH, which last month also faced scrutiny after eight bodies were found in advanced deterioration when freezer space ran out.
After a record payout and police arrests, will any NUH leaders face criminal charges for the maternity scandal?
With new rules like Martha's Rule, can the NHS finally fix the 'toxic culture' that cost hundreds of babies their lives?
Systemic Failures and Human Cost: The 2026 Nottingham University Hospitals Mortuary and Maternity Scandal
Overview
In June 2026, two men were arrested as part of a police investigation into mortuary practices at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH), highlighting serious lapses in the handling of deceased infants and broader failures in maternity care. These issues, revealed by staff disclosures and the Donna Ockenden report, exposed a culture of racism, lack of accountability, and resistance to transparency within NUH. The resulting harm to families included emotional trauma and life-changing injuries to children. In response, NUH is taking corrective actions and the government is planning a national action plan to improve maternity and post-death care across the NHS.