Bereaved Parents to Testify at Sussex Maternity Services Review

An independent review into the maternity services provided by the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust has officially commenced, with bereaved parents slated to provide crucial evidence. This comprehensive review is being led by Donna Ockenden, a senior midwife and clinical risk manager, who previously led the independent investigation into Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust maternity care. The launch of this review follows a sustained campaign by affected families and a significant media investigation that highlighted numerous concerns regarding patient safety and outcomes within the Sussex Trust's maternity units.

Among the parents preparing to give evidence is Susan Cacciacarro, who was nearly 37 weeks pregnant with her daughter Chiara in 2021. Cacciacarro reported waking up one morning and being unable to feel her baby's movements, describing a feeling that her "belly just didn’t feel right." Her experience underscores the deeply personal and often tragic circumstances that have prompted this independent scrutiny. The review aims to examine a wide range of cases, focusing on instances where babies were stillborn, died shortly after birth, or suffered avoidable harm due to alleged failings in care. The terms of reference for the review are expected to encompass a significant period, allowing for a thorough examination of historical practices and systemic issues.

The establishment of this independent review signifies a critical step towards accountability and improvement within the NHS. Donna Ockenden's previous work at Shrewsbury and Telford, which uncovered hundreds of avoidable baby deaths and severe harm to mothers and infants over two decades, has set a precedent for the depth and rigor expected from such investigations. Her leadership is seen as a guarantee that the voices of those most affected will be heard and that the review will be conducted with sensitivity and impartiality. The campaign by families, often supported by local and national media outlets, played a pivotal role in bringing these issues to the forefront and compelling the NHS to commission this independent assessment. The findings are anticipated to lead to concrete recommendations for enhancing maternity care standards, improving training for healthcare professionals, and implementing better safety protocols across the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust and potentially other NHS trusts nationwide.

This review is not merely an examination of past events but is intended to drive tangible improvements in current and future maternity care. By gathering firsthand accounts from bereaved parents, the review team seeks to understand the lived experiences of families who have suffered devastating losses. This qualitative data, combined with clinical and operational reviews, will form the basis of Ockenden's findings and recommendations. The University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust has stated its full cooperation with the review, acknowledging the importance of learning from these experiences to prevent future tragedies. The process is expected to be lengthy, involving extensive data collection, interviews, and analysis, with a final report anticipated to be published at a later date, outlining the full scope of the issues and proposing a roadmap for necessary reforms in perinatal care.