Families fear maternity probe doctors are being 'protected'

THEY FEEL THEY ARE BEING 'KEPT IN THE DARK' AND GMC IS 'CLOSING RANKS'

- By JOEL MOORE

THE medical body which regulates nurses and midwives is examining 85 cases relating to members of staff in Nottingham - but families fear doctors responsible for maternity failings are being “protected”.

Both the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) and General Medical Council (GMC) have been accused of a years-long absence during the unfolding maternity scandal by parents who suffered harm and baby deaths due to poor care.

Maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH), which runs the Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital, are currently subject to the largest independent review in NHS history. Around 2,500 families are now part of the inquiry, being chaired by expert midwife Donna Ockenden, while a police investigation is ongoing.

The NMC, which regulates nurses and midwives, has 85 open cases relating to maternity staff in Nottingham, 15 at an investigation stage. In one case, a staff member is due to appear before a panel at a fitness-to-practice hearing which is yet to be scheduled. The remaining 69 cases are still being assessed, an NMC spokesperson said.