Two arrested over Nottingham hospital mortuary practices ahead of maternity review

Two men have been arrested in connection with mortuary practices at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, a fresh police development that runs alongside the intense scrutiny already surrounding the trust's maternity services.

Nottinghamshire Police said the men, aged 55 and 59, were arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office as part of Operation Perth. The investigation is examining practices linked to Queen's Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital.

Police have stressed that the inquiry is at an early stage, and have urged anyone with concerns to come forward as officers work through the cases that fall within its scope.

A separate inquiry, sensitive timing

The arrests came shortly before the publication of Donna Ockenden's independent review into maternity care at the same trust, a review expected to cover thousands of family experiences and serious incidents over more than a decade.

Officers have said the mortuary investigation has identified potential breaches of the Human Tissue Act. Families affected have been contacted, and police have cautioned that further people may be notified as the inquiry develops.

Two strands, one trust under pressure

The mortuary case is distinct from the maternity review, but the timing has sharpened public attention on Nottingham University Hospitals and on the broader question of institutional accountability. The trust has already faced regulatory and legal pressure over maternity failings, including compensation settlements and past prosecutions.

For families, the new police action is likely to deepen anxiety in the days before the Ockenden report. It also broadens the public picture of concern from maternity care alone to wider trust practices, including the treatment of the deceased, a deeply sensitive subject for relatives already enduring grief.

What happens next

Investigators have not announced any charges, and the two men remain suspects unless and until charged and convicted. It is important to note that arrest is not a finding of guilt, and the legal process has some way to run.

The case is now expected to proceed in parallel with the national response to the maternity review, leaving Nottingham University Hospitals facing two demanding lines of public scrutiny at once.