Two individuals have been taken into custody on suspicion of irregularities in managing mortuary services within a hospital trust that is at the center of what has been labeled as the most significant maternity scandal in NHS history.
The arrests occurred shortly before the release of a comprehensive report on deficiencies at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust, which scrutinized over 2,500 incidents involving mothers and infants who either passed away or suffered severe injuries.
Nottinghamshire Police announced that the detained men, aged 55 and 59, were apprehended on Monday for their involvement in the operational procedures of the trust’s mortuary service. NUH oversees mortuary operations at Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital under a license granted by the Human Tissue Authority.
The enforcement action was conducted by Operation Perth, Nottinghamshire Police’s inquiry into maternity services at both medical facilities. Operation Perth revealed violations of the Human Tissue Act regulations concerning the management and operations of the mortuary services.
In a statement, Nottinghamshire Police stated, “We understand that this will be particularly distressing for families. We acknowledge that this development occurs just days before the release of the independent maternity review, overseen by Donna Ockenden, which will be a crucial yet challenging period for families.”
“We have reached out to the families we have already identified as directly affected by the issues found within the NUH trust mortuaries. As the investigation progresses, we will contact other affected families as soon as they are identified.”
The forthcoming report by senior midwife Donna Ockenden is scheduled for publication on Wednesday, revealing significant deficiencies in maternity care at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital, including instances of racism towards mothers. The review evaluated over 2,500 cases involving infants and mothers who suffered injuries or lost their lives, including stillborn babies under the care of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The trust has already disbursed substantial compensation and fines following legal action over substandard care, and Nottinghamshire Police initiated a corporate manslaughter inquiry last year as part of a broader criminal investigation into maternity shortcomings at the trust.
The General Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council are conducting separate investigations into allegations against individual staff members. Prior to the report’s publication, the Nottingham Maternity Families Group urged former PM Keir Starmer to commission a statutory public inquiry into maternity care nationwide.