An inquiry into the avoidable death of baby Harriet in 2016 has highlighted a series of medical errors and systemic failings at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust, as well as subsequent efforts by Harriet’s family to seek accountability. Harriet’s parents, Jack and Sarah Hawkins—both senior medical staff at the trust at the time—challenged the initial assessments of her care, which had attributed her death to an infection and found no errors in treatment.

The inquiry classified levels of care failure, with grade two indicating suboptimal management that might have changed outcomes, and grade three referring to situations where different management would reasonably have been expected to affect the result. The Hawkins family’s case was central in illustrating how multiple missteps contributed to Harriet’s death.

Following the trust’s internal review, which cleared staff of wrongdoing, the Hawkins family pushed for and secured several independent investigations. These subsequently identified serious shortcomings in Harriet’s care. The trust eventually agreed to a settlement of £2.8 million, acknowledging failures in the treatment provided to their daughter.

The report further criticized regulatory bodies, including the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Human Tissue Authority, and the Care Quality Commission, for their inadequate oversight and failure to support the family through the process. It described the aftermath of Harriet’s death as being worsened by what was characterized as a systemic cover-up, with investigations that were perceived as misleading, exacerbating the emotional toll on the Hawkins family.

The inquiry also underscored the broader issues faced by families who encounter institutional resistance when seeking explanations and justice following medical tragedies. Jack and Sarah Hawkins, together with their surviving daughter Lottie, have spoken publicly about the impact of the process on their wellbeing and the importance of transparency in healthcare investigations.