The report of the largest maternity inquiry in the history of the NHS is due to be published today and is expected to outline widespread failings in the care provided to women in Nottingham.

As previously reported by the Guardian, the report will reveal a catalogue of appalling behaviour over many years by staff at the city’s two hospitals – Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham city hospital – including racism towards mothers.

The inquiry, led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, investigated 2,500 cases of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths and babies or mothers who suffered brain damage and other injuries while under the care of Nottingham university hospitals NHS trust between 1 April 2012 and 31 May 2025.

A senior source with knowledge of Ockenden’s conclusions said: “The findings in the Nottingham report will be very bad. It’s going to be horrendous. There will be some pretty challenging stuff in the report.”

The inquiry began more than four years ago, in May 2022, following a decade-long campaign for justice and change by the families affected. More than 2,500 families and approximately 850 staff and ex-staff of the NHS trust have given evidence to it.

Nottinghamshire police is still considering whether to charge the trust with corporate manslaughter. On Monday, the police force said two men were arrested “in connection with operating practices in the mortuary service” provided by the trust. It is thought to be the first arrests as part of the force’s Operation Perth, which has been examining care provided to at least 200 families.

The Guardian’s health policy editor, Denis Campbell, and health and inequalities correspondent, Tobi Thomas, have more:

The report is expected to be published at 11.45am with Ockenden to give a press conference at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Nottingham. Follow along to get the latest updates.