The Independent Review of Maternity Services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has been published today. Led by Donna Ockenden, it is the largest review of a single maternity and neonatal NHS service. The review examined the experiences of hundreds of families and sets out a series of safety recommendations for the trust and the wider system.

The Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations (MNSI) programme investigates maternity and neonatal safety concerns across England. Many of the themes in the review reflect issues we see in our own investigations nationally.

Responding to the publication of the review, Sandy Lewis, Programme Director at MNSI, said:

First and foremost, our thoughts are with the families at the heart of this review.

“We welcome the publication of the Independent Review into Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the recommendations made within it.

“This review is the largest of a single NHS maternity and neonatal service and many of its themes are ones we see in our investigations, including delayed escalation, fetal monitoring, sustained workforce pressure, the impact of health inequalities and the importance of listening to women and families and acting on what they say.

“We must use this report and the expected review by Baroness Amos as a turning point for maternity and newborn care in England. We already know what needs to change. Women and families have told us, our investigations have shown us and many national reviews have also laid it out.

“As a system we now need to work together to ensure trusts and frontline maternity and neonatal staff have the resources to implement change that will mean safer maternity and newborn services for all women, babies and their families.

To find out more about MNSI's work investigating maternity and newborn safety, and how this supports learning across the NHS, visit www.mnsi.org.uk.

Related news

World Pre-eclampsia Day 2026

On World Pre-eclampsia Day, MNSI reflects on findings from maternal death investigations between 2020 and 2026, identifying recurring safety issues including delayed diagnosis, inconsistent monitorin…
Read the full article

MHRA acts on blood transfusion safety following MNSI investigation

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published new Device Safety Information on blood transfusion sets, building on an MNSI investigation and Safety Spotlight from last …
Read the full article

International day of the midwife 2026

Bringing a new life into the world is one of the most profound experiences a person can have. At the centre of this journey are midwives, skilled professionals who combine clinical expertise with com…
Read the full article

New national guidance: Transfer of critically ill maternity patients

A new guidance supplement has been published by the Intensive Care Society that aims to improve the safety and quality of care when critically unwell pregnant or recently pregnant women are moved bet…
Read the full article

Event recordings: MNSI programme strategy update and thematic priorities

Catch up with our MNSI strategy update event from 15 April 2026
Read the full article
© 2026 MNSI. All rights reserved.