NUH Chair Nick Carver addresses ‘maternity failings’ at Public Meeting

Today (Monday 10 July), at Nottingham University Hospital’s (NUH) Annual Public Meeting, Nick Carver, NUH Chair, committed to a new honest and transparent relationship with the families whose lives have been affected by maternity failings at the Trust.

He said: “Let me be very clear that, as the public record shows, this is an area where we have failed the families and communities that we exist to serve. To make matters worse, having failed them we have too often worsened things by not responding to them appropriately.

“On behalf of the Trust Board I commit the Trust to a new honest and transparent relationship with the families whose lives have been affected by maternity failings at the Trust.

“For too long we have failed to listen to women and families who have been affected by failings in our maternity services. This ‘brick wall’ has caused additional pain, and this must change.

“Families should not have to fight to get the answers they deserve and we are committed to gaining their trust, and the trust of all our communities by listening and engaging with them.

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“Some families, who we have had the chance to meet have told us they want a meaningful apology that they recognise as meeting their needs, including accountability and a change in the culture.

“We will work with them and other families to make that happen.

“As we considered whether today was the time to make our formal apology, some have asked how, with the review ongoing we can properly know what we are apologising for.

“We understand that.

“We will work collaboratively to plan for an apology on behalf of the Board at the right time that the families recognise as meaningful.

“We recognise there will be other families who haven’t had the chance to come forward yet and we will want their views on how we go about putting things right for them too.

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“We agree with the families when they tell us that engagement with them will help us make sustainable improvements to our maternity services.”