Police Action in Operation Perth
Two men, aged 55 and 59, have been arrested in Nottingham over concerns linked to practices in a hospital mortuary service. Police confirmed the arrests took place on Monday.
Background of the Maternity Investigation
The issues are part of a major maternity review in the NHS, which is one of the largest of its kind.The review is led by independent senior midwife Donna Ockenden. It covers around 2,500 cases and began in September 2022 after repeated allegations of poor care affecting mothers and newborns.
Mortuary Service Under Scrutiny
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust runs mortuary services at both Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital. These services operate under a licence from the Human Tissue Authority.
Police say Operation Perth identified breaches of regulations under the Human Tissue Act.
Support for Affected Families
Deputy Chief Constable Rob Griffin said the investigation may be distressing for families already involved in the case. Support services are also available through the Operation Perth information channels.
Hospital Response
Manjeet Shehmar, medical director at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said the trust is aware of the arrests. He said the organisation is taking the matter seriously and will fully cooperate with the investigation.
