Grieving parents who lost their babies soon after birth at Nottingham hospitals met Sajid Javid to discuss their concerns over the maternity care unit. A month passed after the devastated group jointly wrote a letter to the Health and Social Care Secretary, calling for a new "truly independent review" to be conducted into the maternity service at Nottingham University Hospital Trust (NUH).
In their letter to Sajid Javid issued on April 6, the families called for him to appoint Donna Ockenden to lead a public inquiry. It was later revealed that former NHS Trust chairwoman Julie Dent CBE had instead been chosen to lead the existing review that was 'underway'.
However, the parents have been told on Wednesday afternoon (May 4) that Julie Dent CBE has “for personal reasons, decided not to proceed as Chair of the Independent Review of maternity services as NUH". It is not yet known who will take over the review.
The families stand by their initial opinion that Donna Ockenden should be appointed to conduct a new independent review, just as she had 'successfully done at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust'. The parents who met Sajid Javid were Dr Jack Hawkins, Mrs Sarah Andrews, Ryan Parker and Felicity Benyon.
In a joint statement, they said: “We are grateful to Sajid Javid for meeting with us today and for taking a personal interest in our campaign for better maternity services in Nottingham. It is the first time that families have been properly listened to by senior healthcare professionals since Jack and Sarah Hawkins originally whistle blew the problems in maternity care at NUHT back in 2016.
"Today feels like the first significant step towards ensuring the protection of babies and mothers from death and harm in the future. Over the coming weeks we plan on sharing with the Health Secretary detailed information of the significant public scrutiny that has taken place over many years, from varying sources which demonstrate that NUHT have shown themselves incapable of change, which is why a proper independent review must be conducted leading to a full public inquiry.”
Suzanne Munroe, Head of Clinical Negligence at Switalskis Solicitors whose firm represent many of the affected families, said: “We are pleased that today’s meeting has taken place and we continue to support the families in their quest for change.”
