Regulators apologise for maternity scandal response

The organisations responsible for regulating the conduct of doctors, midwives and nurses have issued a public apology over the experience of families with maternity care concerns.

Representatives of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and General Medical Council (GMC) addressed families in Nottingham at a meeting organised by Donna Ockenden on Saturday.

The senior midwife is leading the biggest investigation into maternity failings in NHS history centred on Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust (NUH).

"We owe the people of Nottingham an apology," said Paul Rees, chief executive and registrar of the NMC.

Mr Rees said his organisation "had not been proactive" and "did not engage with families well enough".

He added: "I am pleased to say we have changed all this now."

Mr Rees signalled the need to reach out to other communities about maternity care and accepted the NMC's website was "too confusing and complicated".

He said it needed to be written in "plain English", adding it was vital people wanting to raise concerns understood how to get help from the organisation.

Liz Jenkins, assistant director at the GMC, added: "We are sorry we haven't always got interactions with families right."

Both organisations are now running regular "surgeries" for families to book in for discussions with individual health professionals.

Sarah and Dr Jack Hawkins' daughter Harriet was stillborn in 2016 following maternity failings at City Hospital in Nottingham.

Dr Hawkins said they noticed a "step change" in the approach of the regulators which he attributed to the "power and determination" of families coming together.

Ms Hawkins said: "For a long time (when) families raised concerns with regulators it has been another fight to have. It is reassuring that has changed now."

Sarah Sissons, whose son Ryan was born with brain damage 17 years ago because of poor maternity care, welcomed the regulators' comments.

She said they "seemed to be wanting to do the right thing", but added: "Is it a little bit too late? Potentially.

"They have a lot of work to do to rebuild trust with the parents. We will see."

Ms Ockenden said: "My sense is they are now trying to engage effectively with the enormity of what has happened here in Nottingham."

The NMC told the BBC it currently has 12 family cases referred to it relating to Nottingham maternity services.

Early checks, called "screening", are being carried out in relation to 24 individuals.

Meanwhile, the professional conduct of 14 people were moved to the "investigation stage".

Both organisations have a range of sanctions if disciplinary hearings are eventually held and cases proven.

The ultimate sanction is to strike off an individual from the professional register, which means they would no longer be able to practice.

Ms Ockenden began an independent review into maternity failings in Nottingham in September 2022 and is due to deliver her findings in June 2026.

In total, 2,361 cases where babies and women have died or been injured are being examined.

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