Donna Ockenden, the senior midwife leading a review into failings at Nottingham's maternity departments, has met with hospital bosses for the first time. More than 1,400 families and staff have already contacted the probe following deaths and serious harm at the maternity units at City Hospital and Queen's Medical Centre.
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH), which is rated 'inadequate' by inspectors in terms of maternity care, said it received "very helpful feedback" when members of its board, including chief executive Anthony May, met Ms Ockenden on Thursday, February 2. Ahead of the meeting, the midwife told Nottinghamshire Live she and the trust would be discussing how lessons could be learnt as the review progresses.
"What I want to reassure the women and families of Nottingham about is that if we find learning as we go along, we will be getting that to the trust formally, we have a structure in sharing that with the trust," said Ms Ockenden. "I don't want women wondering that there is a huge amount of learning for the trust right at the end.
Read more: Hundreds more families to receive letter as part of 'huge' Nottingham maternity review
"We will be passing that learning on and ensuring that service change and maternity safety stays on top of the agenda as we progress through the review." After the meeting, NUH said in a statement: "Donna provided very helpful feedback about where communication with women and families, written and spoken, should have been better.
"Women and families can be assured that the feedback and learning that Donna shared us with today, and throughout the review, will be used to make improvements to our maternity services immediately. Our staff are already working hard to make the necessary improvements now.
"Crucial to these improvements is ensuring that staff and family voices are heard. We are encouraging people who have significant or serious concerns about their maternity care and current or former staff to contact the review team and share their experiences. We know this is an unsettling time for people using our maternity services. Women and families can be confident that those responsible for their care are committed to providing the safest and best experience possible."
READ NEXT:
