A computer file containing records linked to the maternity scandal at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust was intentionally and maliciously deleted, according to a Nottinghamshire Police investigation reported by The Independent. Detectives launched a probe after records held by the trust were temporarily lost, though investigators were unable to identify the individual responsible for the deletion.
Police Findings and Data Recovery at Nottingham University Hospitals
Nottinghamshire Police opened an investigation earlier this year after discovering that files connected to the maternity failings were missing. According to email correspondence seen by The Independent, police concluded that the data loss was most likely the action of someone with direct knowledge of where the material was stored. Investigators confirmed they are satisfied the disappearance did not stem from systemic corruption, stating it was done intentionally rather than accidentally.
Despite the malicious deletion, technical teams successfully recovered the data. Following the recovery, officials expect to add roughly 300 additional cases to the ongoing inquiry after a coroner noted discrepancies in the records. The data investigation operates separately from an ongoing corporate manslaughter probe into Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) conducted by police after revelations that babies died or suffered serious brain damage at the trust’s maternity units.
Impact on Families and the Independent Review
Families affected by the maternity failings expressed deep distress over the deliberate deletion of records. In a statement reported by The Independent, affected families called the incident a patient safety emergency. They noted that while they are grateful for the police investigation, the knowledge that an insider likely targeted vital files is devastating for a community already coping with severe trauma.
NUH is also the subject of a high-profile independent review led by top midwife Donna Ockenden. That inquiry spans the care of roughly 2,400 families who experienced maternity services at the trust, covering incidents of avoidable infant deaths, stillbirths, and permanent injuries spanning a decade. The initial findings emerged from joint investigative reporting by The Independent and Channel 4 News, which first uncovered patterns of substandard care and subsequent institutional cover-ups at the hospitals.
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