The Guardian reported on Monday 2nd June 2025 that the Police had launched a corporate manslaughter inquiry into Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust:
The police inquiry follows the largest investigations that we have ever seen in relation to deaths and injuries to more than 2000 babies at the Trust, which covers the Queen’s Medical Centre and the Nottingham City Hospital. This review is being conducted by the respected midwife Donna Ockenden who had previously conducted a review into similar failings at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust.
What are the concerns?
Ms Ockenden was appointed to carry out her review because there were concerns about the number of stillbirths, neonatal deaths and serious injuries to babies born at the Trust. Added to this were concerns that deaths had been “covered up” and that parents were led to believe that what had happened to their child was unavoidable.
It is understood that lots of babies suffered hypoxic brain injuries in the period prior to birth leaving them to die whilst being born (“still birth”) or to them having serious hypoxic brain injuries which we often refer to as cerebral palsy. Such injuries have lifechanging effects upon families. There are few worse tragedies than experiencing a stillbirth. Children with cerebral palsy often require lifelong specialist care.
How we help people and families with birth injury claims
We have three decades’ worth of experience dealing with claims related to all types of birth injury. If you believe your child has been injures during the period around birth or shortly afterwards at Nottingham, or indeed anywhere in England and Wales, then please do contact us and one of our experts will be able to advise you whether you might have a claim.
Will the inquiry affect my birth injury claim?
The Police Inquiry is unlikely to affect your claim. Corporate Manslaughter is a very rare charge to bring. For a successful prosecution for this crime, it will have to be proven that the deaths of babies occurred as a result of a gross breach of the duty of care owed by the hospital to its patients. It would be necessary to show that severe failings on the part of the senior management at the Trust had led to the deaths of babies. The standard of proof will be the very onerous “proof beyond reasonable doubt.”
To win a medical negligence case, an individual must show on balance of probability (more likely than not) that they were injured by negligence, whether by the organisation or a clinician (whether that be a consultant, junior doctor, midwife or other professional). This is still far from easy to prove but is not quite as hard as prosecuting a Hospital Trust for corporate manslaughter.
Contact our birth injury solicitors today
If you or a loved one have experienced negligent maternity care, our team can help you. We’ll work with you to understand your situation and give you the appropriate support and guidance throughout your claim. Call us free on 0808 164 0808 to speak with our team today.
