Regulator outlines steps it is taking to listen and respond to bereaved Nottingham families

The General Medical Council (GMC) has outlined the steps it is taking to listen and respond to the families involved in the independent review of maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUHT).

The review is assessing failures in the maternity services provided by the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUHT) and is being chaired by Donna Ockenden.

On Saturday 9 May, GMC Chief Executive Charlie Massey and Director of Fitness to Practise Anthony Omo attended a meeting in Nottingham designed to give affected families the opportunity to hear directly from organisations, including the GMC, and ask questions about their work.

Chief Executive Charlie Massey, said:

‘I apologise the GMC did not act quickly or communicate clearly enough in the past - I recognise the additional distress this caused. It’s clear that we should have done things differently.

‘When maternity care goes wrong, the consequences are devastating and lasting. Listening to families is essential to understanding what needs to change. We are committed to learning from their experiences and playing our part in improving maternity safety.’

Speaking at the meeting, Fitness to Practice Director Anthony Omo revealed that the GMC has met with 56 families, and to-date holds 62 open cases relating to maternity care at NUHT. Of these 53 are at an initial assessment stage, and nine are at early investigative stages. GMC investigators are also reviewing over 300 information reports passed to them from the independent review.

The GMC has also introduced a single point of contact to improve its communications with families and has taken steps to ensure its approach is always trauma informed.

With input from Donna Ockenden, the GMC has developed a leaflet explaining what families can do if something goes wrong and has updated its guidance for doctors working in maternity care, setting out its expectations about teamwork and communication and how to respond when things go wrong.

Alongside its work in Nottingham, the GMC is strengthening engagement with patient groups, maternity charities, MPs and coroners across the UK to improve understanding of its role.