NHS Trust Fined £1.6m for Failures Leading to Three Baby Deaths

The trust admitted to systemic failings in 2021 that put mothers and newborns at significant risk, marking the second prosecution by the healthcare watchdog in its history.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust was fined £1.6 million after pleading guilty to six counts of failing to provide safe care and treatment in the deaths of three babies and the mistreatment of their mothers in 2021.
The deaths of Adele O’Sullivan, Kahlani Rawson, and Quinn Parker occurred within 14 weeks, with the court citing 'serious and systemic failures' in maternity care, including delayed emergency interventions and poor communication.
This is the second time the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has prosecuted the trust, following a £800,000 fine in 2023 for a similar case involving the death of a newborn in 2019.
The court reduced the fine from an initial £5.5 million to £1.6 million due to the trust's financial difficulties, but families and advocates called for broader reforms to prevent future tragedies.
The trust stated it has implemented improvements, including hiring more midwives and enhancing staff training, but remains under scrutiny as it is the focus of the NHS's largest-ever maternity inquiry, with findings expected in 2026.