Family Feedback
Family Feedback process
(following publication of the final report of the Independent Review of Maternity Services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust – June 2026)
Author – Donna Ockenden, Chair of the Review
Information sheet for affected families
This document sets out the process by which the Independent Review team will:
- Inform and share Review Findings (the final report) with families
- Provide individual feedback reports to families regarding their individual case(s)
Both the Review findings and individual feedback will be shared with families in a way that is psychologically safe. Families will have the opportunity to ask any questions on an ‘as required’ basis.
There will be circa 2500 families who will receive individual feedback.
Independent Review Report notification – June 2026
- The Independent Review of Maternity Services at Nottingham University Hospitals will publish its final report in June 2026.
- Notification of report publication will be sent to families (via email in most cases).
- Within this notification email, the Review team will confirm that individual feedback will be sent to families in the weeks following publication (up to the end of September 2026 – see Personalised and Individual family feedback section below).
- Each family will be given the opportunity not to receive individual feedback. Details of how to opt out of receiving feedback will be shared with families by the Review team.
- A separate email communication will be sent to ‘Maternity Experience’ families informing them that the Review is published and, as informed throughout the Review, reaffirming that ‘Maternity Experience’ families will not receive individual feedback.
Personalised and Individual family feedback regarding their case(s) – July-Sept 2026
- The sending of individual feedback reports to families will be completed during the weeks post publication, up to the end of September 2026. Families will receive their feedback at different times throughout this period. Sensitive dates will be considered and avoided (where possible) during the feedback period.
- Individual feedback reports will be sent to families via email in alphabetical order and on a basis of 500 per week. Where a valid email address is not available, the feedback will be sent by post.
- Individual Feedback reports will be:
- Translated as appropriate for each family
- Password protected, meaning all families will receive 2 x emails (1) with a password (2) enclosing the individual feedback report
- Included in the correspondence will be information about next steps should the families have any questions regarding the content.
Time for families to reflect
- When families receive their feedback, it is possible they will have further questions.
- Families who request further information will be asked to formulate specific questions to submit to the Review team in advance to enable preparation and response.
Case Gradings and follow up meetings:
Grade definitions:
| GRADE | SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF CARE | DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CARE |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Appropriate | Appropriate care in line with best practice at the time |
| 1 | Minor concerns | Care could have been improved, but different management would have made no difference to the outcome |
| 2 | Significant concerns | Suboptimal care in which different management might have made a difference to the outcome |
| 3 | Major concerns | Suboptimal care in which different management would reasonably be expected to have made a difference to the outcome |
- Families who receive a Grading of 2 or 3 and in cases where mothers have died will be offered the opportunity to have a follow-up meeting with the Review team should they have further questions. NOTE: families will be asked to formulate specific questions to submit to the Review team in advance.
- Families who receive a Grading of 2 will be offered scheduled appointments either by Zoom or telephone to speak to an appropriate member of the Review team
- Families who receive a Grading of 3 will be offered face to face meetings in Nottingham, with appropriate members of the clinical review team
- Families where there has been a maternal death will be offered a face-to-face meeting in Nottingham regardless of grading.
- Irrespective of grade, some families may have questions or request a degree of feedback on their case. During the 5-month period following Report publication, until November/early December 2026, the Review administration team will be available on telephone/email to receive any response or questions from families. nottsreview@donnaockenden.com
- If a family is not content with the Review findings or the feedback given, the family should, in the first instance, directly contact Donna Ockenden as Review Chair via nottsreview@donnaockenden.com. If the Review team are unable to resolve the family concerns then the Review Chair will signpost the family to raise their concerns with NHS England – england.contactus@nhs.net