A shocking new report has uncovered major problems in maternity care at a hospital in England, where poor treatment led to the deaths of many babies and mothers.

The independent review found that at least 156 babies and six mothers died at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust between 2012 and 2025. These tragedies happened at the trust’s two maternity units and could have been avoided in many cases.

The investigation, led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, looked into more than 2,500 families’ experiences. It revealed a toxic work environment where staff bullied each other and ignored concerns from worried parents. Families said their questions were often dismissed, and some investigations tried to hide the truth instead of finding out what really went wrong.

One heartbreaking example involved Harriet Hawkins, who was stillborn in 2016. Her parents, Sarah and Jack Hawkins, who worked as doctors at the same hospital, felt their worries were not taken seriously. The report also pointed to serious medical issues like lack of oxygen for babies and infections picked up in the hospital.

Health officials have described the findings as deeply upsetting. They highlighted cases of neglect and poor attitudes towards families, including discrimination in some situations. The government has promised to create a plan to fix these problems and make sure such mistakes do not happen again.

This latest scandal has raised fresh worries about safety in maternity wards across the country. Many are now calling for big changes in how hospitals care for mothers and babies, so that families can trust the system during such an important time.