The Trust has implemented a series of improvements to safety after it was prosecuted for the deaths of three babies in 2021.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) has been fined £1.6 million following sentencing for the prosecutions of the deaths of three babies, Adele O’Sullivan, Kahlani Rawson and Quinn Parker in 2021.
The Trust was fined at Nottingham Magistrates Court on 12 February, after it pleaded guilty to charges of failure to provide safe maternity care and treatment resulting in a significant risk of avoidable harm and, in one case, actual avoidable harm brought by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
“This is the second time we have prosecuted the trust for not providing safe care and treatment in its maternity services, and we will continue to monitor the trust closely to ensure they are making and embedding improvements so that women and babies receive the safe care they deserve,” said Helen Rawlings, CQC’s director of operations in the Midlands.
NUH must also pay costs of £67,755.23.
“The mothers and families of these babies have had to endure things that no family should after the care provided by our hospitals failed them, and for that, I am truly sorry,” said chief executive Anthony May after the hearing.
“We fully accept the findings in court today and have already implemented changes to help prevent incidences like this from this happening again,” he continued.
Improvements made
As well as improving cardiotocography (CTG) monitoring for women, other steps the Trust has taken include increased foetal monitoring training and support in clinical areas, which has meant that the care provided for mothers and babies at NUH is now safer.
Guidelines and protocols have also been updated and made more accessible and visible to staff, improving the recording of CTGs. Handover processes have been improved, with a more joined-up approach across services using verbal and written updates and meetings to ensure that all staff, including consultants, can manage patient safety, reduce the likelihood of information being missed or misinterpreted, and to support with managing staffing levels throughout the day.
The Trust has also increased investment and training into the development and recruitment of maternity staff which, it says, has seen a significant increase in staffing numbers on the wards and a positive reduction in the number of those leaving the Trust.
“Through our Maternity Improvement Programme, we have reintroduced our Home Birthing service, significantly increased staff numbers, feedback from patient surveys has improved and is consistently positive. We have also heavily invested in our services, launching a new Foetal Medicine Unit and Neonatal Unit. There is more to do, but we know we are on the right path to improvement,” said May.
CQC carried out an inspection of maternity services at Nottingham City Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre last year, and the findings from this will be published on CQC’s website once it has gone through the required quality assurance processes. An independent review is also being carried out by midwife and community activist Donna Ockenden into failings in the trust’s maternity services.
