Figures show that 42 babies who were treated at the Oxford trust while in the womb and during birth between 2019 and 2024 could potentially have lived had the NHS provided better care.

A Freedom of Information request made during a BBC inquiry found that 42 baby deaths might have been prevented with improved NHS services.

These babies received treatment at Oxford University Hospitals throughout their mothers’ pregnancies and at the time of delivery. Of those who died, 28 were stillborn while 14 passed away within their first month of life.

The NHS trust runs one of 26 Level 3 neonatal intensive care and surgical units across the country. This classification covers large centres handling 4,000 or more births each year, distinguished mainly by their ability to perform surgery.

Although official data shows 58 deaths in total, 16 babies had been moved to OUH for specialist care either before or after delivery.

As a result, the Perinatal Mortality Review Tool, which enables consistent evaluations when babies die from 22 weeks of pregnancy onwards, may apply to care given before birth or before reaching OUH.

Using this tool, treatment for 34 babies, accounting for 81 percent, received a C grading, meaning another approach might have changed the result. Treatment for 8 babies, representing 19 percent, received a D grading, indicating an alternative approach would likely have affected survival.

Yvonne Christley holds the position of chief nursing officer at OUH.

Christley said the trust remains deeply conscious that every figure represents a family in mourning. The death of any baby is heartbreaking and has a devastating impact on parents and loved ones. She expressed sincere apologies to every parent and family who has suffered this loss. The trust carefully investigates every baby death to identify lessons and make required changes. This happens through a structured, thorough review process involving multiple specialists across the Thames Valley Network, with independent external reviewers ensuring impartial assessment. The trust remains fully committed to providing safe, compassionate, and excellent care for all mothers, birthing people, babies, and families.

Between 2019 and 2024, roughly 7,400 births took place each year at Oxford University Hospitals, making it among the biggest tertiary referral centres in the country.

The unit documented 78 maternity-related claims, approximately 1.8 per 1,000 births. This ranks among the lowest figures for similar Level 3 maternity units in England.

However, data from MBRACE-UK, which carries out comprehensive national monitoring and examines deaths of women and babies during pregnancy or shortly after in the UK, shows that overall perinatal deaths, including all stillbirths and newborn deaths, fell between 5 and 15 percent below the average for the group during four of the six years.

This week, MBRACE-UK published its latest 2024 national report on perinatal mortality, covering deaths from conception or pregnancy through one year after birth.

The stillbirth rate at OUH aligned with the average for comparable services. Both neonatal death rates and total perinatal death rates were lower and performed above average.

The Government is finalising the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce membership ahead of the concluding report from the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation in June.

The review, examining services at 12 NHS trusts including OUH, was commissioned by Wes Streeting last June.