Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust reported that a data loss incident occurred on August 18 affecting maternity records maintained by the facility. The deletion resulted from human error during routine technical maintenance work, according to an announcement made Monday by the hospitals.
The incident involved IT staff who were creating a backup copy of a radiotherapy database for reporting purposes. Staff members utilized pre-written computer instructions that had been previously deployed for a different hospital system. A configuration parameter that required adjustment prior to execution was not modified, leading the process to target the maternity database instead of the intended radiotherapy system. This resulted in the maternity records database being overwritten with data from the facility’s previous maternity system, which contained records from September 2011 through November 2022.
NUH indicated that it responded immediately upon discovering the error and engaged external specialists to attempt data recovery. The hospitals successfully restored patient care-related information including clinical notes, observations, test results, and other documentation created during patient treatment. However, the viewing history showing which staff members accessed maternity records during the 11-year period could not be fully recovered, making it impossible in most cases to confirm whether specific individuals viewed particular records.
The hospitals stated that no patient information was accessed or used inappropriately as a result of the incident and that current patient care operations remain unaffected. Andy Callow, the chief digital and information officer, expressed apology for any concern caused and indicated that additional technical controls and procedures have been implemented to prevent similar occurrences.
The data loss occurs during a period of heightened scrutiny of the hospitals’ maternity department. Earlier this year, a review identified serious systemic failings including staffing shortages and inadequate staff training. Additionally, a prior police investigation in June 2025 determined that maternity records for hundreds of patients were likely erased intentionally or maliciously, though those records were subsequently recovered. Current police investigations are examining whether the recent data loss impacts the broader investigation into maternity care-related injuries and deaths, with no criminal charges identified at present.
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