An NHS trust is facing prosecution over the deaths of three babies in its maternity care.
The tragic deaths took place in 2021 at the Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has charged the trust for failing to provide safe care and treatment to both the babies and their mothers.
The trust has announced plans to plead guilty when the case is heard at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court next week.
NUH is also at the center of the largest maternity inquiry in NHS history. Midwife Donna Ockenden is leading the investigation, which involves over 2,000 cases of maternity care.
This is the second time the CQC has taken action against the trust for maternity care failures. In 2023, the trust was fined £800,000 after admitting mistakes in the care of Wynter Andrews, who died at just 23 minutes old in 2019. This was the largest fine ever given to an NHS trust for maternity issues.
In 2023, the BBC reported that CQC inspectors were investigating the trust over the deaths of three babies within a 14-week span in 2021.
Anthony May, the trust’s chief executive, confirmed the charges in a statement: “We can confirm that the Care Quality Commission is bringing charges against Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust following an investigation into three deaths which occurred in our maternity services in 2021.
“We have co-operated with the CQC throughout their investigation, and intend to plead guilty to the charges when proceedings open.
“We are not able to comment any further at this stage.”
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