Documents and testimonies reviewed by BBC Panorama reveal that some maternity staff at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) used offensive language to describe pregnant women. The findings come amid the largest maternity inquiry in NHS history, examining care provided to around 2,500 families between 2012 and 2025.
Why this matters
The use of derogatory terms and a culture of dismissiveness within maternity services can severely impact the quality of care and the wellbeing of pregnant women and their families. The inquiry highlights systemic issues including understaffing, poor management response, and racial discrimination, all of which contribute to unsafe maternity care and tragic outcomes.
Key developments
- Staff used the acronym “FOH” on whiteboards next to pregnant women’s names, standing for an offensive phrase telling women to “go home.”
- A 2018 resignation letter from a senior midwife detailed these offensive remarks and described a culture where women in labour were often told to leave the hospital prematurely.
- Multiple midwives reported chronic understaffing and a toxic working environment that compromised patient care.
- Some staff were pressured to return to work shortly after personal trauma, such as miscarriage, indicating a lack of empathy within the trust.
- Racial discrimination was reported, including staff mimicking accents and dismissing pain complaints from non-white women.
Background
The Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust runs City Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre. It is currently under investigation for maternity care failures, including stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths, and injuries to mothers and babies. The inquiry is led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, with findings expected soon.
In 2018, more than 50 midwives signed a letter warning of inadequate staffing as a major threat to safety. Despite this, management failed to take effective action, relying instead on external reviews that did not lead to improvements.
Working conditions and culture
Former staff described a “frightening” workplace with exhausting shifts, lack of support, and insufficient training and equipment. One midwife recalled being the only person able to monitor babies’ heart rates during a shift, fearing for the safety of mothers and infants.
There were also reports of a dismissive attitude towards women in labour, with some staff advising colleagues to be unsympathetic to women who repeatedly sought help.
Management response and ongoing efforts
Anthony May, the current chief executive who was not in post during the period of the allegations, has acknowledged the trust’s failings and committed to accountability and improvement. The Care Quality Commission recently upgraded the trust’s rating from “inadequate” to “requires improvement.”
Efforts to tackle racism and improve care standards are underway, alongside a police investigation and a government-ordered national review of maternity services expected to report soon.
Official statements
Anthony May, NUH chief executive: “We need to take accountability as an organisation for not always providing the circumstances for safe care, for not always supporting families, for not also admitting our mistakes and for not always supporting our staff. And we’re trying to fix that now.”
NHS England: “A number of new initiatives have been introduced to make care safer, including new clinical standards for every maternity service in England to prevent maternal deaths and harm.”
Department of Health and Social Care: “Our thoughts are with the families in Nottingham who have been failed so badly. We are already making progress on maternity – recruiting 2,000 more midwives, investing £149m to improve the safety of maternity and neonatal care facilities.”
Recommended reading
For more context, see related Peack News coverage and explainers linked below.
