Nottingham maternity families 'cross' after meeting

Jack and Sarah Hawkins said families left the meeting angry

Families involved in the biggest independent inquiry into NHS maternity services say they still want answers after meeting with local leaders.

On Wednesday, parents of children who were harmed or died following failings in care at two hospitals in Nottingham met with officials from the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the first time.

They said they were "very surprised" to have had to request to meet officials.

In a statement after the meeting, the ICB said it was "humbled and saddened by the experiences shared by the families".

Hundreds of babies have died or been injured while under the care of Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust, which runs the departments at City Hospital and Queen's Medical Centre.

About 2,500 cases are currently being examined in a review chaired by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, who also presided over Wednesday's meeting.

ICBs were created in July 2022, taking over the role of managing budgets and local services from clinical commissioning groups, which were established in 2013.

Sarah and Dr Jack Hawkins, whose daughter Harriet was stillborn in 2016 following maternity failings at Nottingham City Hospital, were among those at the meeting.

"We are very surprised that they have not reached out to us before - in fact we asked for this meeting," said Dr Hawkins.

Ms Hawkins added: "This meeting has demonstrated basically how horrific it is, their lack of awareness.

"Families have left the meeting cross, and questioning their competency."

ICB chief executive Amanda Sullivan said the board has "committed to supporting and challenging the trust to drive improvements to maternity care".

"We welcome the questions the families raised and commit to answering these at a follow-up meeting soon," she said.