London, November 30, 2025
A new medical notes alert system called the Ockenden alert has been introduced across NHS maternity services in the UK to improve care for families affected by past maternity care scandals, aiming to prevent retraumatization and enhance clinical safety.
The Ockenden alert flags medical histories of women and families who have experienced failings or trauma in maternity care. This alert is embedded in NHS medical records, ensuring all healthcare providers are aware of a patient’s background to offer sensitive and customized care during subsequent appointments. It eliminates the need for families to repeatedly recount distressing past experiences.
This initiative originated from advocacy by families impacted by maternity negligence, notably those like Kayleigh Griffiths, who lost her baby in 2016 due to systemic care failures. Their calls for change highlighted the emotional toll of reliving trauma and exposed the gaps in communication between healthcare professionals. The alert is a response to those concerns, designed to improve the patient experience and clinical vigilance.
The Ockenden alert emerged from findings of the Ockenden Maternity Review, an independent investigation led by Donna Ockenden into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and nationally. The review revealed persistent systemic failures threatening patient safety and called for urgent reforms. The alert is part of a broader set of safety measures and improvements following these investigations.
Implementation of the alert marks a significant advancement in UK maternity care safety protocols. Integrating it into standard practice helps rebuild trust between families and healthcare providers. It also aids clinicians by providing crucial historical context to prevent repeated errors and address long-term impacts of care failures.
The establishment of the Ockenden alert underscores a systemic commitment to transparency, accountability, and enhanced patient welfare in maternity services. By formally recognizing past maternity care traumas, the NHS aims to foster an environment where affected families receive the empathy and protection necessary for safer healthcare outcomes in the future.