Today, our thoughts are first and foremost with the bereaved families, harmed families and all those whose lives have been forever changed by the events detailed within Donna Ockenden’s report.
We pay tribute to every family who came forward and shared their experiences. Many have spent years reliving unimaginable grief and trauma in pursuit of truth, accountability and change. Their courage, determination and resilience have brought us to this moment.
We also recognise the staff who raised concerns and spoke out for patient safety, often at considerable personal and professional cost.
Our thanks also go to Donna Ockenden and her team for their transparency and consistency with which they have engaged with MPs whose constituents are served by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The findings of this report are deeply concerning and make for difficult reading. They reveal failures and harm that should never have happened and identify issues that require urgent action.
As local Members of Parliament, we are absolutely determined that this report must lead to meaningful change, genuine accountability and, ultimately, justice for the families affected.
Today is not the end of this process. It is the beginning of the next chapter.
Our immediate focus is on the families at the heart of this review. We recognise that many will still be processing the findings and reflecting on what has been an emotional and deeply significant day. We want to give families the time and space they need and deserve.
When families are ready, we will meet with them again. We will listen carefully to their views and concerns, and together we will continue to advocate for whatever action is necessary to secure the answers, accountability and justice they are still fighting for.
We are also deeply troubled by reports that some senior individuals declined opportunities to engage fully with the inquiry. Accountability requires openness, transparency and a willingness to answer difficult questions. Any failure to do so undermines public confidence and is unacceptable.
Furthermore, it is important that we recognise the impact of racism and discrimination faced by many families which led to avoidable harm and loss. Confronting these deep inequalities is essential to improving care.
We are equally deeply disturbed by the findings relating to mortuary services and the care afforded to those who have died. Families who have experienced the loss of a baby or loved one deserve the highest standards of dignity, respect and compassion. The concerns raised in this report are profoundly upsetting and require urgent attention and a robust response.
We welcome the publication of this report, but publication alone is not enough. Recommendations must be implemented, lessons must be learned and progress must be there for all to see.
We will continue to work with families, stand with families and support them to ensure that the findings of this review lead to lasting improvements in maternity and bereavement care.
The families who fought for this review have already changed Nottingham. Together, we must now ensure their courage delivers change that protects families for generations to come.
Signed,
Michelle Welsh MP
Member of Parliament for Sherwood Forest
Michael Payne MP
Member of Parliament for Gedling
Steve Yemm MP
Member of Parliament for Mansfield
Adam Thompson MP
Member of Parliament for Erewash
Alex Norris MP
Member of Parliament for Nottingham North and Kimberley
Amanda Hack MP
Member of Parliament for North West Leicestershire
James Naish MP
Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe
Jo White MP
Member of Parliament for Bassetlaw
Juliet Campbell MP
Member of Parliament for Broxtowe
Lilian Greenwood MP
Member of Parliament for Nottingham South
Nadia Whittome MP
Member of Parliament for Nottingham East