Statement in response to the Independent Review of Maternity Services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Responding to the Independent Review of Maternity Services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust published yesterday, a spokesperson for the NHS Race and Health Observatory said:

“This review presents a series of traumatic, deeply distressing yet sadly unsurprising findings.

For too long, we have been aware of the serious concerns about unsafe, dismissive and discriminatory care raised by Black, Asian and ethnic minority families. This report reinforces what they have consistently told us: racism and structural inequity remain pervasive within maternity and neonatal services.

“The NHS Race and Health Observatory’s Anti-Racist Framework and Implementation Model sets out the systemic, workforce and patient-facing changes required to deliver safe and culturally responsive care. We stand ready to support national and local partners to embed these principles across maternity and neonatal pathways.

“Our 2022 report – Ethnic Inequalities in Healthcare: A Rapid Evidence Review  referenced in this review also highlighted deep seated concerns related to patient care and workplace culture. Our Seven Principles of Anti-Racism in the Workplace have been developed to ensure the NHS has practical, evidence-based resources to help address the issue of racial inequalities.

“It is welcoming that Martha’s Rule will be adopted more widely. In 2024, the Observatory worked with a range of stakeholders to actively report on how this intervention could be scaled to ensure Black, Asian, and ethnic minority communities, patients, families, and carers feel safe in raising their concerns

“In collaboration with NHS England, we are now delivering the Perinatal Equity and Anti-Discrimination programme (PEADP); a new programme to challenge racism and discrimination faced by mothers and babies, working with perinatal leaders across all hospitals in England, including multi-disciplinary teams of experts – clinicians, senior midwives, obstetricians, trust executive leaders, HR/ organisational development leads, data analysts and Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership Leads.

“While these findings are shocking, they must mark a turning point. The Observatory will continue to support the NHS, and wider healthcare system, to tackle the deeply engrained challenges related to racial and ethnic inequalities, including those that have been outlined in this review.”