Bereaved families to demand independent review into Sussex maternity services
Parents' group Truth for Our Babies is meeting with Health Secretary Wes Streeting tomorrow
Last updated 14th Apr 2026
Bereaved and harmed families are set to demand an independent review into Sussex's maternity services.
Parents' group Truth for Our Babies is meeting with Health Secretary Wes Streeting tomorrow after ringing alarm bells over care standards in local NHS units.
"Everything we'd dreamed about ... had been ripped away from us."
Baby Hazel was conceived after six miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy - yet was stillborn.
"It was beyond devastating," her mum, Liz Charlton shared.
"All of our worst fears had become reality."
She'd awoken from an induced coma to find out she'd given birth, just hours before a meeting to address health concerns she'd been raising for months.
"My daughter died because my individual needs were not understood or acted upon," Liz continued.
"I gave everyone my medical history, and I pleaded to be heard even when I was close to death, but the warning signs were repeatedly ignored.
"Since the start of my fertility journey, I have been fighting to be listened to.
"I will continue to fight to ensure that I’m heard now, because I cannot bear the thought of inadequate care continuing across maternity units in Sussex.
"This cannot happen to another family, yet it does even five years on from what happened to mine.”
Group demands "full and wide reaching independent review"
"The experience Liz endured shows exactly why Sussex needs a full and wide-reaching independent review," Truth for our Babies said.
"Liz is sadly only one of over 60 families in the region whose lives have been altered forever by maternity care failings.
"We are now putting our faith in the Wes Streeting to respond to our calls for accountability and change.”
Dr Maggie Davies, Chief Nurse at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, said:
"The loss of a baby is an unimaginable tragedy for any parent, and we offer our deepest condolences and sincere apologies to Hazel’s family. "Everyone involved in Hazel’s care has been deeply affected by her loss, and the suffering we know it has caused.
“We cannot comment further while legal proceedings are ongoing, but we recognise that no settlement can ever truly compensate for the family’s distress.
“Our priority is always to provide the best care – that means listening carefully, learning, and making changes so that families today get the safest care possible.”