Senior midwife Donna Ockenden open to leading other maternity inquiries

Hundreds of babies have died or been injured while in the care of Nottingham University NHS Trust (NUH), which runs maternity wards at the city hospital and the Royal Medical Centre.

Units currently assessed by the health authority needs improvementstay the focus of the largest investigation of its kind About 2,500 cases were reviewed.

In June, Streeting announced national inquiry to a maternity ward in England where victims of scandals such as Nottingham would be implicated.

Ms Ockenden said she had discussed the issue with the families of those killed in Nottingham and said she “felt confident” there was a way to take on more without affecting the work she had done so far.

She said she would be willing to lead the Leeds inquiry and the pregnancy review at Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, calling it an “honour” that should be taken into account.

The BBC reported that families in Nottingham support Ms Ockenden leading other reviews.

“What we have to learn in this country is that families don't have to fight so hard to get the answers they deserve,” she said.

“We saw it at the beginning of the Nottingham review and also at Shrewsbury and Telford: it’s not good enough.

“I'm always honored and privileged when families trust me and tell me they want me, but it's not my decision, it's the Secretary of State's decision.”

She said nine families had been in contact with Streeting and asked her to investigate University Hospitals of Sussex NHS Foundation Trust – which has maternity units in Brighton, Chichester, Haywards Heath and Worthing.

Asked about calls for her to take on the job, she said: “Again, the feelings are the same, I'm honored to trust the family, it's not my decision, but there are ways to make it work.”

“I promise, and I have discussed this in detail with Nottingham families and MPs, that this will not affect the quality or timing of their review.”

Streeting said he knew families in Leeds had recently told him it was “Donna or Bust”.

“She will not be leading the investigation in Leeds, not least because she is leading the work in Nottingham, Shrewsbury and Telford,” he said.

“If I could clone her I would, but because Donna has earned the trust of the families she works with, everyone wants Donna, I understand that and have the utmost respect for her.

“But I have to make sure that I protect the work that Donna is already doing, but I also need to build a wider team of people who can support the government, support the NHS when problems arise.”

Mr Streeting said the government was “putting together a potential list” of candidates to chair the Leeds review.