Bereaved Sussex families back public inquiry into national maternity care
Truth for our Babies have responded to systemic failures uncovered in Nottingham
Families who have lost babies in Sussex maternity care are demanding a public inquiry into care failings across the country.
It's after a report found 'deeply embedded systemic failures' in maternity care at a hospital trust in Nottingham.
Truth for Our Babies - a group of parents who are calling for improvements for maternity care in Sussex - described the findings as "devastating":
" We are thinking of all the affected families, whose courage and resilience are the only reason the scale and extent of failings and unsafe care at the Trust have been brought to light.
"Over the past few years, we have witnessed firsthand the strength and determination of the Nottingham families, alongside their kindness and support for fellow bereaved and harmed families, which has been invaluable to us."
The statement comes ahead of Sussex's own review into maternity care.
"UHSussex is now subject to a Donna Ockenden led review of its maternity services and at Trusts across the country, there are deep-rooted cultural and systemic failures in maternity and neonatal services, where the concerns of families are dismissed and those responsible fail to listen.
"We cannot wait for the next tragedy.
"We join the Nottingham families in calling for a statutory public inquiry, recognising that the scale of these failings demands national accountability and action."
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive Officer Dr Andy Heeps said:
“Our thoughts remain first and foremost with the families whose babies have died or who have suffered harm when receiving care in our hospitals.
“We welcome Donna Ockenden’s review and remain committed to fully supporting the process so families can get the answers they need, and we take any possible opportunity to learn and improve.
“Our overriding priority is always to provide the safest possible care for mothers and babies – that is why our maternity teams have implemented many positive changes in recent years, and why we will work with the review team to find new ways of making our services better, and safer, still.”