By Charlotte Webster-
There is growing impatience about the 18 months time scale set for the largest ever review into Nottingham Maternal Care, following several deaths at the hospital.
The extensive inquiry, headed by Donna Ockenden, chair of the inquiry, which aims to address the concerns of 1,700 families who have been affected by deficiencies in maternity services has raised questions from many members of the public.
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Donna Ockenden, renowned for her previous inquiry into services in Shropshire, initiated the broad review after her investigations unveiled the heart-wrenching reality of at least 201 babies and mothers losing their lives due to inadequate care.
The Nhs said the review will consider cases from 1 April 2012 to a time anticipated to be three months before publication of the final report, in order to enable the Review team to advise NHS
England and NUH as to the safety and quality of maternity services immediately prior to completion of this Independent Review.
The review follows dozens of baby deaths and injuries at Nottingham University Hospital (NUH) NHS Trust. It will focus on the maternity units at the Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital, run by the trust, after thousands of families were let down by the trust.
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Bereaved families whose children died due to failings in their care by NUH, demanded a public apology the Trust at a closed meeting in May, which NUH committed to delivering at its APM.
This nationally-commissioned Review will focus on identifying areas of concern within maternity care at NUH was designed to provide information and recommend actions to help improve the safety and quality of maternity care and the handling of concerns at NUH when they are raised by women and/or their families.
Learning and recommendations will be shared with NUH as they become apparent to allow rapid action to improve the safety of maternity care. The only and final report will be published and presented to NUH and NHS England (as the Review’s commissioners) within 18 months (estimated March 2024
However, numerous residents of Nottingham say the time scale is too long, and some have expressed concern over expressed flexibility to increase the time scale if necessary.
Bradleigh O’Brian whose family lost a baby in one of the hospitals told The Eye Of Media.Com: ” I just think it is too long to wait for such an important investigation.
‘Families who lost ones are living in hell everyday they have to wait for what has been present as procedure.
‘The fact the review is open to extending the scope at its discretion is more worrying
‘Affected families I know have read details of the process of the review, and are worried about the flexibility given to extend the time for the completion of the investigation, with practically no discretion to reduce the time’.
The Nottingham University Hospital (NUH) NHS Trust, specifically the maternity units at the Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital, were widely condemned for the large number of reported deaths of babies at the hospitals.
A series of tragic baby deaths and injuries had raised profound concerns about the quality and safety of maternity services within the trust. Thousands of families found themselves let down by the very institutions they trusted with their most precious moments.
Calls for Accountability
For the bereaved families who lost children due to the failings of NUH, the quest for answers and accountability has been relentless. In May, they convened a closed meeting, demanding a public apology from the Trust, a step they saw as essential to their healing process. The trust committed to delivering this apology during their Annual Public Meeting (APM).
Four months have elapsed since the announcement of the review, significant questions hang in the air. Families and concerned citizens alike are eager to understand the progress of the investigation, the timeline for its conclusion, and whether it deserves more time to ensure a thorough examination.
A time scale of 18 months has been set for the investigations, but many affected families remain inpatient.
Nhs England which is overseeing the review said that targeted and specific family feedback will be provided to those families who wish to receive it and where the opinion of the review team is that improved care would reasonably be expected to have made a difference to the outcome (graded 3 on the 0-3 scale set out in the
below table).
Investigations of this magnitude require meticulous attention to detail and thorough examination of evidence. Rushing to a conclusion can risk overlooking crucial information.
Given the severity of the issues and the profound impact on affected families, there is a delicate balance to strike between the thoroughness of the investigation and the timely delivery of answers.
Factors Likely to be Taken into Account
As the Nottingham Maternity Care Review unfolds, several factors are likely to be considered in the investigation:
The inquiry is expected to closely scrutinize clinical practices within the maternity units, assessing adherence to established protocols and guidelines.
The adequacy of staffing levels, as well as the training and support provided to healthcare professionals, will be assessed to identify any potential gaps in care.
Effective communication among healthcare providers, patients, and families is paramount. The inquiry will likely examine how information was conveyed and received.
Donna Ockenden has emphasized the importance of diverse voices in the review. The investigation will consider whether care discrepancies exist based on ethnic and social backgrounds.
Quality Assurance: Systems in place for quality assurance and patient safety will be scrutinized to ensure they are robust and effective.
Managing Expectations
Managing expectations in such a complex and emotionally charged investigation is no small task.
Families eagerly await answers, seeking closure, accountability, and assurance that such tragedies will not recur. However, it is crucial to recognize that a thorough review takes time, especially when the stakes are as high as they are in this case.
The key is striking a balance between delivering answers promptly and ensuring that no stone is left unturned. Communication from the inquiry team will be pivotal in this regard, offering regular updates to those affected and the wider public.
Transparency in the process will help manage expectations and convey the seriousness with which the investigation is being undertaken.
This nationally-commissioned Review will focus on identifying areas of concern within maternity care at NUH was designed to provide information and recommend actions to help improve the safety and quality of maternity care and the handling of concerns at NUH when they are raised by women and/or their families.
Learning and recommendations will be shared with NUH as they become apparent to allow rapid action to improve the safety of maternity care.
The only and final report will be published and presented to NUH and NHS England (as the Review’s commissioners) within 18 months (estimated March 2024
Ockendon has previously called for more people to contact the review, stressing that it was “vital” that women from a range of ethnic and social backgrounds came forward.
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