Five families share stories ahead of Nottingham maternity report
7 reported
A long-awaited report into maternity failures at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust (NUH), involving about 2,500 families, is set to be published later this week. The inquiry, led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, investigated stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths, and injuries between 2012 and 2025. The Guardian spoke with five affected families who shared their experiences and explained why the report is a landmark moment. The families described preventable deaths, brain injuries, and surgical errors, alleging that staff ignored warning signs and failed to act. NUH chief executive Anthony May expressed sorrow for the families' suffering and said the trust would consider the findings carefully.
What’s reported
The Ockenden inquiry investigated about 2,500 families and covered incidents from 2012 to 2025.
Wynter Andrews died in 2019 at Queen’s Medical Centre from hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy; a coroner ruled it a clear case of neglect.
Felicity Benyon had an emergency hysterectomy in 2015 at age 29; medics accidentally removed her bladder, leaving her with a urostomy bag.
Caitlin Stringer, born prematurely in 2021, developed NEC; an external review found an X-ray diagnosed NEC 15 hours before she collapsed, and antibiotics were not given within an hour.
Quinn Parker died 36 hours after birth in 2021; his mother went to hospital four times with bleeding and said requests for a C-section were ignored.
Harriet Hawkins was stillborn in April 2016; an external review found 13 failures and concluded the death was almost certainly preventable.
NUH chief executive Anthony May said he was sorry for the families' pain and that the trust would consider the report's findings.
Key figures
Donna Ockenden, senior midwife leading the inquiry
Sarah Andrews, mother of Wynter Andrews
Felicity Benyon, affected patient
Emily Stringer, mother of Caitlin Stringer
Emmie Studencki, mother of Quinn Parker
Ryan Parker, father of Quinn Parker
Sarah Hawkins, mother of Harriet Hawkins
Anthony May, chief executive of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust
Sources: The Guardian
