In June 2026, the final report of the independent review into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) was published, marking the conclusion of the largest maternity review in NHS history. The review examined more than 2,500 cases and heard evidence from more than 800 current and former members of staff.
The report raised significant questions about patient safety, accountability, governance and the legal responsibilities owed to mothers and babies. It also provides important lessons for healthcare providers across the NHS.
The review came as a result of years of concerns from families about the quality and safety of maternity care at NUH. The investigation focused on cases involving maternal deaths, neonatal deaths, stillbirths and birth injuries, as well as concerns regarding the negligent management of labour and delivery.
Key findings of the report
The final report identified widespread failures in care and found that many instances of harm could have been avoided had women and babies received the appropriate standards of care.
The review found that:
- 444 women experienced potentially avoidable harm
- 76 new born babies suffered potentially avoidable harm
- Six maternal deaths may have been impacted by failures in care
The report also highlighted that workplace culture contributed to concerns often not being listened to, with staff consistently feeling unable to speak up. Learning from these incidents was also found be inadequate.
It was found that significant failures occurred in foetal monitoring, risk assessment, escalation to senior clinicians and adherence to clinical guidelines. Many of the issues identified within the review could be described as being negligent, meaning that if reasonable care and skill was exercised, harm to mothers and/or babies could have been avoided. Healthcare professionals have a duty to assess risk factors and implement appropriate care plans throughout pregnancy and labour and failure to do so can expose patients to avoidable harm.
The Nottingham findings reinforce the importance of healthcare organisations maintaining robust systems for clinical governance, staff training, incident reporting and engagement with patients.
Impact on the future of maternity care
The review is likely to influence both existing and future maternity negligence claims. Although the review focused on Nottingham University Hospital, its findings will impact the NHS on a national scale.
The report sets out wider NHS recommendations aimed at improving maternity and neonatal safety across England. Key recommendations include better staffing, enhanced training, stronger governance, improved incident investigations and a culture where staff and families feel able to raise concerns.
These recommendations are important because they address many of the factors that are regularly seen in maternity claims. If effectively implemented, they have the potential to reduce avoidable harm and improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
Stephensons have a specialist team of birth injury solicitors who are experienced in assisting families who have experienced clinical negligence when accessing maternity services. We understand how distressing these cases can be and handle them with compassion and empathy whilst working to get families the answers they need. To speak with a member of our birth injury team call us on 0161 696 6165 or fill in our online enquiry form.
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