An investigation by Channel 4 News and the Independent newspaper looked at baby deaths at NUH maternity departments.
Nottinghamshire County Councillor Michelle Welsh had her son 15 months ago in the Nottingham City Hospital and while she says her ‘experience of the maternity services were bad’, she also says that they were ‘not as appalling as other cases that continue to come to light.’
From 2010 to 2020, at least 46 babies suffered brain damage and 19 were stillborn at NUH NHS trust maternity services. There have also been 15 deaths at the units involving mothers and babies.
County Councillor and local mum Michelle Welsh has called on the Health Secretary to conduct an Independent Inquiry as a matter of urgency.
Below is a letter to the Rt Hon Sajid Javid – The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Councillor Michelle Welsh said:
“Channel 4 news aired a programme about some of those tragic cases where women were ignored and babies lost their lives needlessly. A common thread in all of these cases are that they were all avoidable, that women were not listened to and that communication afterwards has been appalling.
“The protection of mothers and babies in Nottinghamshire has to be the top priority. That is why, in light of this evidence, I am calling for an Independent Inquiry into the experiences of parents who utilised NUH maternity services from 2010 and those that are using them now. This must take place as a matter of urgency and the Government must demand answers.
“Lives have tragically been lost, lives have been shattered and hearts have been broken, this must not be allowed to continue”
Tracy Taylor, the Chief Executive of Nottingham University Hospitals, said: “We apologise from the bottom of our hearts to the families who have not received the high level of care they need and deserve, we recognise the effects have been devastating.
“Improving maternity services is a top priority and we are making significant changes including hiring and training more midwives and introducing digital maternity records.
“We will continue to listen to women and families, whether they have received excellent care or where care has fallen short; it is their experiences that will help us to learn and improve our services.”
