Families across Nottinghamshire could be forgiven for feeling a sense of déjà vu this week.
Another Care Quality Commission (CQC) report has landed, and once again, maternity services at Nottingham City Hospital and the Queen’s Medical Centre have been rated “Requires Improvement”, with inspectors finding that the units “did not always keep women and their babies safe.”
For the thousands of families whose lives have already been touched by failings in the region’s maternity care and the many more currently expecting or hoping to start families, these findings are not abstract. They are personal. And the anxiety they create is entirely understandable.
In this blog, we’ll delve deeper into the CQC’s findings in the context of the ongoing scrutiny that Nottingham’s maternity services face.
A service still under scrutiny—and still falling short
These latest CQC inspections took place in May 2025 but were only published months later.
The reports echo much of what families have been saying for years:
- Gaps in staffing across maternity units.
- Leadership that was “not always visible” and at times perceived as unsupportive.
- A culture in which staff feared blame during incident investigations.
Crucially and perhaps most worryingly, inspectors found ongoing breaches of security, including:
- Staff not knowing when the last baby‑abduction drill had taken place.
- A lack of reliable systems to ensure the correct identification of mothers and babies when separated.
- Evidence of a baby being returned to the wrong mother.
These are not minor administrative oversights.
For families, they cut right to the heart of trust and safety, the very foundation of maternity care.
Families are still living through the fallout
The region remains home to the largest maternity review in NHS history, led by Donna Ockenden and examining around 2,500 cases of potential harm.
Families involved in that review have spoken for years about preventable tragedies, missed opportunities, and communication failures.
And even now, according to the reports, some women expressed anxiety about giving birth in a service under such intense scrutiny, shaped by the widely known history of failings.
Many praised frontline staff for their kindness and compassion, and that deserves recognition, but compassion alone cannot overcome systemic risks.
The trust’s response: improvements acknowledged, but still “a way to go”
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) maintains that it is committed to improvement, highlighting:
- Better midwifery staffing levels.
- Plans to increase obstetric staffing.
- Updated security policies and baby‑abduction drills are now being completed.
- High positive feedback scores from many families.
These steps are positive. But they sit alongside the undeniable reality that maternity services were again rated as unsafe in key areas, and leadership and staffing remain “requires improvement.”
As the CQC made clear, more work is needed to make improvements sustainable.
Why this matters so deeply to claimants
For families who have already experienced avoidable harm, each new report is not just a news headline; it’s a reminder of what was lost, of questions still unanswered, and of how long it takes for change to happen.
It is a worrying reality that, despite the deepest scrutiny of Nottingham’s maternity services to date, failings are still happening and improvements are desperately needed.
For those currently pregnant or planning a family, these findings understandably cause fear, uncertainty, and doubt. When a maternity service cannot demonstrate the basics, adequate staffing, effective leadership, and robust safety systems, it becomes even more important that families understand their rights and know that support is available.
Our role: standing with families every step of the way
At times like this, families need more than reassurance; they need advocacy.
We see, every day, what happens when warnings are missed, when staffing is inadequate, when systems fail, and when families are left without answers.
We also see the strength and courage of families fighting to make maternity care safer for others.
As the Ockenden Review moves towards its final report later this year, many families will be bracing themselves for emotionally difficult findings and, we hope, meaningful recommendations.
Through all of this, we remain committed to supporting anyone who has concerns about the care they received at Nottingham’s maternity units.
Whether you have experienced harm, are unsure about something that happened during your care, or simply need guidance on what the latest developments mean for you, we are here to listen and help.
If you’re worried, you’re not alone
You are not overreacting. You are not being “difficult.” You are not the only one feeling unsettled.
You are a parent or a parent‑to‑be seeking safe, compassionate, competent care for yourself and your baby. That is the least any family deserves.
If you have concerns about maternity care at NUH or elsewhere, please reach out. We can help you understand what happened, what your options are, and how to pursue answers.
How can we help?
Danielle Young is a Partner in our Medical Negligence team, which has been ranked in tier one by the independently researched publication, The Legal 500. She specialises in pregnancy and birth injury claims (including cerebral palsy), brain injury claims, fatal claims, surgical error claims, and cauda equina injury claims.
If you have any questions in relation to the subjects discussed in this article, then please get in touch with Danielle or another member of the team in Derby, Leicester, or Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form.
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If this article relates to a specific case/cases, please note that the facts of this case/cases are correct at the time of writing.