Did hospitals’ trust try to hide mistakes in maternity care?
INDEPENDENT REVIEW WILL LOOK AT HOW INCIDENTS WERE CATEGORISED
AN inquiry is now under way into whether the trust which runs Nottingham’s hospitals kept serious mistakes on its maternity wards hidden to avoid scrutiny.
The independent review, which is being carried out by NHS England and the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG, comes after the recent publication of a damning CQC report into Nottingham University Hospitals Trust (NUH) services.
The Independent says the review will look at whether mistakes, involving baby deaths and stillbirths, were properly reported – or incorrectly categorised in a way that meant the trust avoided scrutiny.
It is alleged the trust used its own sub-category, labelled as “higher level incidents”, which meant they were kept internal and not reported nationally as they should have been.
A coroner last month found there were “missed opportunities” in the lead up to the death of Arliya-leigh Bull, who died at 18 months old.
Her mum, Laura Bagworth, previously said she felt she was let down “minute-by-minute” before her delivery by a maternity department that “failed me every step of the way”.
Ms Bagworth told the Post after hearing news of the inquiry: “I don’t think it’s going to change anything.
“I think the services there are absolutely diabolical. I would never have another child at the NUH maternity ward ever again.”
The Trust has recognised that it hasn’t always categorised incidents appropriately.
It told the Post that in early 2021 it changed its processes with the aim of ensuring the right level of investigation is carried out every time, so it can provide families with the appropriate support and identify learning.
Chief Nurse for Nottingham University Hospitals Michelle Rhodes said: “We are doing everything in our power to ensure the families using our services get the best possible care and will fully co-operate with the independent review.”
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG has been approached for comment but had not responded by the time this edition went to press.