Chief executive of NHS trust admits hospital was an unsafe environment for mothers and babies

Tracy Taylor, chief executive of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has admitted the trust did not provide a safe environment where midwives could deliver safe care to women and babies.

In a message sent to staff earlier this week, Ms Taylor said the revelations made for “difficult reading”.

She added “We fully accept that, although our maternity team are passionate about what they do, we have not created an environment where these same staff can provide a positive and safe experience for every family in their care, every time.

“When we make mistakes and do not get that care right, we know that the effects can be devastating and we have apologised from the bottom of our hearts to the families who have not received the high level of care they need and deserve.

It has also emerged the Care Quality Commission has warned the trust it is considering launching a criminal prosecution against it for its failure to provide safe care to a baby who died as a result of gross failings by the trust in 2019.

Ms Winter went on to say in her message to staff “Improving our maternity services is one of our top priorities and we know how tirelessly colleagues in maternity are working to make those improvements.

“Since September 2020 we have hired 37 midwives, including a new director of midwifery, and we are ensuring everyone working in maternity is up-to-date with the training they need to do their job. We have invested in new equipment to assist our staff in their roles and we are improving our digital maternity records, to ensure that every staff member can easily access the data to help inform the care they provide.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s team of medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record. The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of medical negligence. He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in medical negligence claims. Tony also acts as a Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled. Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk. Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist medical negligence Legal Aid and no win, no fee solicitors for free legal advice on Freephone 0800 304 7382