Donna Ockenden is chairing the independent review of Nottingham University Hospitals Trust (NUH), where maternity units are rated ‘inadequate’ by inspectors.
Nottingham University Hospitals said:
‘Today, Donna Ockenden starts her work on the Independent Review into our maternity services.
‘This is an important moment for the families that we have let down and we are deeply sorry for the unimaginable distress that has been caused due to failings in our maternity services.’
‘We know that an apology will never be enough though and we owe it to those who have been failed, those we’re caring for today and to our staff to deliver a better maternity service for our communities. We welcome the review and will work with Donna’s team to achieve this.’
‘Donna has made a public appeal today for anyone who has concerns about their care or their loved ones’ care to come forward and we encourage everyone to share their experiences about our maternity services with Donna at nottsreview@donnaockenden.com.’
‘We also encourage all staff, from maternity and across our Trust to engage with the Review to ensure that the process achieves its objectives. We all want the same outcome – a better maternity service for our communities.’
‘We know too that this is an unsettling time for women and families using our maternity services right now.
‘Please know that the Review will not impact day-to-day levels of care and that our teams are focused on maintaining standards and delivering quality care throughout.’
‘If you have concerns about any aspects of your care, please speak to your midwife or consultant.’
‘Women and families can be assured that we are not waiting for the Review to conclude and have been working hard to make the necessary improvements now. We know there is still significant work to do and our staff are committed to making the necessary improvements at pace.’
