A new television drama series will explore one of the largest maternity scandals in NHS history, centered on the experiences of Jack and Sarah Hawkins at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Last month, an independent review determined that more than 500 mothers and babies experienced potentially avoidable harm or died due to failings at the trust. The Hawkins’ daughter Harriet died before delivery at Nottingham City Hospital in 2016. After an initial hospital review found no obvious fault, the couple—both former trust employees—pursued an external review. That 2018 review identified 13 failings and concluded Harriet’s death was “almost certainly preventable.” A wider investigation led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden began in September 2022.
The drama will be based on the ITV documentary “Maternity: Broken Trust,” which followed families affected by the trust’s failures. Jason Isaacs will portray Jack Hawkins, with the series produced by Cuba Pictures and directed by Jim Loach. Laura Warner, who directed the documentary and won a Royal Television Society journalist award, will serve as executive producer. According to Warner, the dramatization will allow deeper exploration of the trauma and struggle experienced by affected families than was possible in documentary format.
The Hawkins were among the first to raise concerns about maternity services at the trust. Sarah Hawkins described the drama adaptation as significant, noting that families in Nottingham had long felt isolated and disbelieved. She expressed hope that dramatization would help audiences connect with the families’ experiences more effectively than documentary format. Jack Hawkins emphasized that the series would illustrate the institutional behaviors families encountered and the difficult nature of advocating for accountability within the NHS.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust acknowledged the review as a significant moment and stated commitment to improving maternity services. The chief nurse issued an apology to the Hawkins family and affirmed the trust’s dedication to listening, learning, and reform. No transmission date has been announced for the series.