Streeting Calls for NHS Bosses to Face MPs Over Nottingham Maternity Scandal
Former UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has urged Parliament to summon senior NHS officials who refused to cooperate with the largest maternity investigation in NHS history, describing their decision not to give evidence as an act of “cowardice” and an insult to affected families.
Streeting’s call follows the publication of an independent review led by Donna Ockenden into maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The review concluded that hundreds of mothers and babies suffered avoidable harm over several years due to serious failings in maternity services.
During the investigation, Ockenden approached 66 current and former senior staff members from the trust. However, only 35 agreed to be interviewed, leaving significant gaps in the review’s findings.
In a letter sent to Layla Moran, chair of Parliament’s Health and Social Care Select Committee, Streeting called on MPs to use their powers to compel those who declined to participate to explain their actions before Parliament.
He argued that refusing to cooperate denied grieving families the truth about what went wrong and reflected a culture of secrecy within parts of the NHS. Streeting said those responsible should be held accountable and suggested that Parliament’s powers, including the possibility of contempt proceedings, should be used if necessary.
The review involved contributions from around 2,500 families and more than 800 current and former members of staff. Despite the extensive evidence gathered, Ockenden acknowledged that the refusal of some senior leaders to participate limited the inquiry’s ability to establish a complete picture of events.
Among the families seeking answers is that of Harriet Hawkins, who was stillborn at Nottingham City Hospital in 2016 after repeated delays in medical intervention. The review found that her case was compounded by systemic failures and efforts that appeared designed to mislead investigators.
Harriet’s father, Jack Hawkins, who previously worked as a consultant doctor at the trust, said he understood Streeting’s frustration but questioned whether parliamentary hearings were the best approach. He warned that any action must not interfere with an ongoing police investigation into maternity failings at the trust.
Instead, Hawkins renewed calls for a full statutory public inquiry, which would have the legal authority to compel witnesses to give evidence under oath. He argued that only such an inquiry would provide families with the answers they have sought for years.
Gary and Sarah Andrews, whose daughter Wynter died shortly after birth in 2019 following multiple missed warning signs, also supported greater accountability. They welcomed Streeting’s criticism of senior leaders while echoing calls for a statutory inquiry that would not jeopardise the criminal investigation.
In response to the Ockenden review, the UK government has already announced plans to strengthen accountability within the NHS. Future maternity investigations will have the legal power to compel current and former NHS staff to provide evidence, with those refusing to cooperate potentially facing prison sentences of up to two years.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the reforms are intended to tackle the culture of silence highlighted by the Nottingham review and ensure that future investigations can uncover the full truth for affected families.
