Two men arrested over Nottingham hospital mortuary practices

Two men arrested over Nottingham hospital mortuary practices

Nottinghamshire Police have detained two men in connection with concerns about the operations of the city’s mortuary services as part of a wider investigation into maternity failings. These men, aged 55 and 59, were arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. The mortuary services in question are managed by Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust at the Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital, both operating under a licence from the Human Tissue Authority.

The arrests form a component of Operation Perth, an ongoing investigation launched in 2023 after serious failings were identified, which contributed to the deaths and injuries of hundreds of babies. This probe runs in parallel with the largest maternity inquiry ever conducted by the NHS, overseen by independent senior midwife Donna Ockenden. Her review started in September 2022 amid reports of harm to mothers and newborns, now covering approximately 2,500 cases.

Police have stated that Operation Perth uncovered violations related to the management and procedures of the mortuary services, specifically breaches of the Human Tissue Act. Deputy Chief Constable Rob Griffin acknowledged the impact of these developments, saying, “We recognise this will be particularly distressing for affected families who are part of Operation Perth.” He encouraged those families to reach out directly to the police to discuss their concerns.

Meanwhile, professional bodies including the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) are conducting their own investigations into allegations involving individual staff members. The findings of Donna Ockenden’s extensive maternity services review at NUH are scheduled for release imminently, with the report expected to provide further insights into the issues uncovered at these hospitals

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