Police worker resigns after maternity review breach

A member of police staff has resigned after "deleting or altering" information in a major investigation into failings at Nottingham's maternity services.

Operation Perth is the police's corporate manslaughter investigation into whether maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS trust had been grossly negligent.

The trust is at the centre of the largest maternity inquiry in the history of the NHS, with about 2,500 cases of neonatal deaths, stillbirths and harm to mothers and babies, led by independent midwife Donna Ockenden.

Nottinghamshire Police said families who were "directly affected have been informed and provided with further details regarding their specific case".

The force said the employee concerned was suspended while a "complex and thorough" investigation was carried out but has since resigned.

It said the investigation found no evidence of misconduct and determined the individual "did not act dishonestly or maliciously" and there was no evidence of third-party involvement.

Temporary deputy chief constable Rob Griffin said: "To clarify, altered or deleted does not mean the permanent loss of information.

"This refers to single data fields being overwritten, amended, or moved within the system, and all affected information has been fully restored.

"Our robust checking and monitoring processes have enabled us to identify every discrepancy and rectify all alterations and deletions. We are entirely confident in the integrity of the Operation Perth investigation system."

Officers confirmed no information was shared outside of the investigation and personal medical records were not affected.

Griffin added: "I recognise the impact that the staff member's actions may have had on families, and I hope that our swift action and candour in relation to this matter has maintained trust and confidence in Operation Perth."

Officers previously said auditing had originally uncovered the issue and the person thought to be responsible had the "correct level of up-to-date vetting to access the information they were able to".

The force said this week that it had reviewed 232 of the 360 family folders that had been passed on by the review.

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