Hundreds of newborn babies died or were left ‘brain damaged’ at two Nottingham hospitals

HUNDREDS of babies were either left dead or brain damaged at two hospitals in what could be the NHS’s biggest maternity scandal.

Police are planning to launch a criminal probe after a review was carried out into more than 1,700 cases of possible harm to newborn babies and mums.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has now released further data revealing the extent of the feared scandal.

A Freedom of Information request submitted by shows more than 657 baby deaths will feature in the review.

At least 228 neonatal deaths and 409 stillbirths were identified across the Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital over the last ten years.

A further 20 mums who died are also expected to be included in the report, as well as hundreds of cases of severe maternal harm.

The data shows letters were sent to 1,378 women by the trust asking them to take part in the independent inquiry.

Of this, there were 1,541 "adverse events" - including brain damage, baby and mum deaths, stillbirths and maternal harm.

The statistics found 202 cases of brain injuries to babies and 582 cases of severe maternal harm.

Jack Hawkins, whose baby Harriet died during labour in 2016, said: "This is from a hospital that said it didn't have a problem and said Harriet's harm was isolated.

"We hope that as these numbers become clear maternity clinicians start to recognise the extent of harm done. We hope that they will start to recognise just what has been going on.";

The review, led by Donna Ockenden, is looking into failings at the trust's maternity units at the Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital over recent years.

The trust was ordered to make "significant and immediate improvements" to its maternity services amid growing concerns patients were not safe.

Nottinghamshire Police are now preparing to launch their own investigation following some of the findings.

Michelle Rhodes, chief nurse at NUH, said the trust was working closely with the review team.

She added: "We know that too many women and families have been let down by our maternity services, and we are fully committed to the Independent Review being led by Donna Ockenden which will make sure those individuals are heard.

“We have a comprehensive maternity improvement programme in place which is driving changes in our maternity services.

"These changes include staffing levels, training, compliance with guidelines, record keeping and the provision and use of equipment. We are striving for a culture where our teams feel supported to give the level of care we all wish to provide."