Parents in Sussex are being encouraged to participate in meetings related to a significant review of maternity services. The review, led by Donna Ockenden, will examine cases of stillbirth, neonatal death, and maternal harm within the University Hospitals Sussex Trust.
University Hospitals Sussex, which operates maternity units in Brighton, Worthing, Chichester, and Haywards Heath, has expressed its commitment to cooperating with the review. Dr. Andy Heeps, the chief executive of the trust, stated that their thoughts are with the families who have experienced adverse outcomes. He added that the trust has implemented improvements and will work with the review team to enhance the safety and quality of its services.
The review was initiated last year by then-Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Ockenden is known for her previous reviews of maternity failings at NHS trusts in Shrewsbury and Telford, as well as Nottingham. Families who attend the upcoming meetings will have the opportunity to meet members of the review team and learn about the investigation process.
One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her experience of delivering her son, Walter, at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in December 2020. Her son was born "blue and unresponsive" and required resuscitation. Walter was deprived of oxygen at birth, and due to the resulting brain injury, his parents made the decision to withdraw life support when it became clear he would not recover. "You never arrive at the hospital with a healthy baby expecting to leave the hospital and your baby has died, it's heartbreaking and it scars you for life and it changes you forever," she said.
The review aims to identify systemic issues and ensure that lessons are learned to prevent future tragedies and improve care for expectant mothers and newborns.