Scope of review into Nottingham hospitals ‘wider than UK’s biggest maternity scandal’

Donna Ockenden, the midwife leading a review into failings by Nottingham’s maternity services, said the scope was wider than the UK’s biggest maternity scandal.

 

Ms Ockenden previously led the review at Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Trust, that found failings had led to the deaths of over 200 babies.

 

The terms of reference for the review in Nottingham were set out earlier this week, with a category of severe maternal harm being added to include cases that did not lead to a death or injury, making the scope wider.

 

The new category aims to identify cases of severe maternal harm, like a major obstetric haemorrhage, or an unexpected admission to intensive care.

 

Ms Ockenden said “We felt adding in the category of severe maternal harm would help us to understand women’s experiences and help us to learn and help the trust to learn from those cases as well.

 

“So actually there’s been a widening of the scope which our review team felt was important and when we tested it out with some families they felt it was important too.

 

“Perhaps there’s a mum out there saying ‘well I’m okay, and my baby’s okay, but x,w,z of my maternity experience really worried me or frightened me’ then she can send in her experiences.”

 

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