Maternity review families meet new health secretary

Families taking part in the biggest maternity inquiry of its kind in NHS history have met the new health secretary.

Senior midwife Donna Ockenden's independent report about maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust will be published on 24 June.

The review, which involves about 2,500 families, began in September 2022 after allegations of harm to mothers and babies.

Speaking after meeting affected families newly appointed James Murray said listening to their experiences had "strengthened my resolve to ensure the truth is uncovered and accountability sought."

Murray's predecessor, Wes Streeting, met the families in June 2025 in what he called the "most harrowing" meeting he had in the role.

Ockenden's inquiry has been investigating stillbirths, neonatal deaths, injured babies and mothers, and maternal deaths at NUH, which runs Nottingham's City Hospital and Queen's Medical Centre.

Murray said: "The families in Nottingham have shown immense courage and determination, and fought tirelessly for the truth in the most heartbreaking circumstances.

He added Donna Ockenden's review would be a "landmark moment", and he was committed to working with her to ensure recommendations led to "real lasting change".

In a statement issued after the meeting, families said it was "vital" the health secretary met them, and added they were "pleased" he listened to what they had to say.

Nottinghamshire Police also launched a corporate manslaughter case last June as part of its wider criminal investigation into maternity failings at NUH, named Operation Perth.

About 850 members of staff at the trust have come forward to the independent review.

Anthony May, NUH chief executive, who met some of the families affected for the first time at a meeting on 9 May previously said NUH would not "breathe a sigh of relief and move on" after the report, and described it as a "watershed moment".

He stressed that the trust had improved but there were further improvements to be made and the findings would be incorporated into the plan.

At that same meeting, Ockenden said she would have a role in overseeing the improvements made by the trust after the report was published.

"What absolutely must come is change - change that happens in a meaningful way, a sustained way," she said.

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