Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

NHS maternity review raises red flags about midwives

The head of the review said in the letter that mothers told her interpretation and translations services are “very hit and miss�

NHS maternity review raises red flags about midwives

THE head of a review into maternity care in Nottingham said there is a “recurring theme” of midwives not listening to women who say they are in labour, writes Anna Whittaker.

Donna Ockenden is running the largest maternity review in NHS history at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust (NUH). As part of the scrutiny, covering the Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital, Ockenden and her team regularly share findings with the trust and NHS England.


At the most recent meeting on June 21, Ockenden met trust chief executive Anthony May, chief nurse Michelle Rhodes and medical director Dr Keith Girling.

Ockenden then sent a letter on August 8 to May in which she raised several concerns.

She explained that she met families, including parents who experienced the death of their baby at the trust two years ago; two families of mothers who had died; and parents who are managing the 24-hour care needs of profoundly unwell children following birth at the units.

The letter, made public last Thursday (24), said: “During the recent holy month of Ramadan, despite the fact I had highlighted it to the trust before Ramadan as an issue that occurred last year, women told me they were still told to ‘break their fast’ for some blood tests and told there was no flexibility for early or later blood tests.

“Since the timing of Ramadan is known about in advance, this extra provision in blood testing could have been planned for in advance and I sincerely hope it will be next year.

“Women were repeatedly told they are not in labour, ‘it’s Braxton Hicks’. One woman was recently told this at 33 weeks of pregnancy, even though she had a history of previous pre-term labour and she should have been admitted for assessment.

“Other women are told they could not be in labour and to stay at home ‘if they can talk on the phone.’ Women not being believed they are in labour when they call the trust for assistance seems to be a recurring theme.”

Ockenden said in the letter that mothers told her interpretation and translations services are “very hit and miss”. This included mothers who require emergency caesarean sections, some of whom signed consent forms without understanding what they were signing. Others had to phone relatives to have a three-way conversation.

She added that parents were being told by the maternity team their notes had been ‘lost’ by the trust – despite these being held electronically by the review team.

Rhodes said the team was “grateful for the continued and regular feedback”.

“Our teams are committed to improving services. We are proud the work of the taskforce was recognised for making progress in a number of areas with black and minority ethnic groups, as well as the important work midwives are leading with the homeless and asylum seekers,” she said. (Local Democracy Reporting Service)

More For You

uk-railways-iStock

The package includes £415 million to upgrade the rail line between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York, a route affected by delays and disruptions. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Government announces £1.7 bn transport investment for the North

THE GOVERNMENT has announced a £1.7 billion investment to improve transport infrastructure across the North, focusing on buses, roads, and rail.

The funding aims to upgrade key routes and improve connectivity across the region.

Keep ReadingShow less
Keir-Starmer-Getty

Keir Starmer’s communications chief has resigned after nine months in Downing Street. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Starmer’s communications chief Matthew Doyle resigns after nine months

KEIR STARMER’s communications chief, Matthew Doyle, has resigned after nine months in Downing Street. Doyle, a Labour veteran who previously worked for Tony Blair, joined Starmer’s team as communications director four years ago when the party was in opposition.

His departure follows that of Sue Gray, Starmer’s former chief of staff, who left in the autumn. Doyle’s exit is expected to lead to the promotions of James Lyons to director of communications (strategy) and Steph Driver to director of communications (delivery), according to the BBC.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lakshmi-Mittal-Getty

Mittal, who built his steel business over five decades, moved to the UK in 1995. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Lakshmi Mittal may leave UK after non-dom tax abolition: report

STEEL tycoon Lakshmi Mittal is considering leaving the UK following the government’s decision to abolish the non-domiciled tax status. The move would make him one of the most prominent entrepreneurs to leave due to the tax reform.

Mittal, who has lived in the UK for three decades, has informed associates that his departure is likely due to Labour’s decision to end the non-dom regime, which allowed certain residents to avoid paying UK tax on foreign income.

Keep ReadingShow less
King Charles

The palace said in a statement that after receiving scheduled treatment in the morning, the king had 'temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital.' (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

King Charles cancels engagements after cancer treatment side effects

KING CHARLES has postponed his engagements for Thursday and Friday after experiencing side effects from his ongoing cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace announced.

The palace said in a statement that after receiving scheduled treatment in the morning, the king had "temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital."

Keep ReadingShow less
Salman Rushdie to release first major work since stabbing
Rushdie was stabbed about 15 times: in the head, neck, torso and left hand, blinding his right eye and damaging his liver and intestines. (Photo: Getty Images)

Salman Rushdie to release first major work since stabbing

BRITISH-AMERICAN novelist Salman Rushdie will publish his first major work of fiction since the brutal stabbing that blinded him in one eye, his publisher said on Thursday (27).

The Eleventh Hour, is a collection of short stories examining themes and places of interest to Rushdie who narrowly escaped death during the 2022 attack. It will be released on November 4, 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less