Bereaved families welcome Donna Ockenden as head of Sussex maternity review

A group of bereaved families have welcomed the appointment of a chairwoman for the independent review of maternity services at a hospital trust as they stressed that the investigation must include all harmed families.

Sussex Truth for Our Babies group said more than 60 families in the county have been affected by maternity care failings.

The families met Wes Streeting in Brighton on Wednesday, where he confirmed that senior midwife and investigator Donna Ockenden, who the families wanted to lead the investigation, will chair the review into maternity care at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UH Sussex).

Mr Streeting, who announced the review last June, has “listened to the campaigning families”, the group said.

“This has been a long, exhausting and deeply emotional fight for all of us,” bereaved mother Katie Fowler said in a statement on behalf of Sussex Truth for Our Babies group.

Ms Fowler’s daughter Abigail Fowler Miller died two days after being born at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton in January 2022.

An inquest concluded she would likely have survived if her mother had received medical treatment sooner, with Ms Fowler also going into cardiac arrest.

The statement continued: “As a group, we have been calling for this review for two years, all while living with devastating loss and harm caused to us and our babies.

“Today’s announcement represents a significant and welcome step forward. We are grateful that Wes Streeting has listened to campaigning families and recognised the need to appoint Donna Ockenden to lead the review. While the full scope of the review is yet to be agreed, Mr Streeting was receptive to the arguments we made as to why a full, inclusive review is needed to ensure that no family is left behind.

“A review that does not include all harmed and bereaved families cannot deliver the truth or accountability that is so desperately needed. Lessons will be missed, and opportunities to prevent future harm could be lost.

“This review gives us hope that we will finally get answers we have been seeking, not just for our own families, but for every family that has been affected. It is about accountability, but it’s also about working to ensure that no other family has to endure what we have been through.”

Mr Streeting told reporters: “I don’t mind saying this (preparation for the review) has taken too long, and I’ve certainly reflected on that.

“It was important to me to make sure that we got the scope of this right.”

He added that he had not “ruled out” a full public inquiry into maternity care across the country.

In a statement, the Health Secretary said: “Donna Ockenden has earned the trust of families across the country through her tireless work to uncover the truth and drive lasting change in maternity care. I know she will bring that same dedication to Sussex.

“To the families in Sussex, your determination to seek answers not just for yourselves, but for every family who comes after you, is so important. This review has my full personal commitment, and I will ensure we get the answers and deliver the change you deserve.”

Ms Ockenden said it was an “honour” to be asked to chair the review.

“I am absolutely aware of the responsibility I have to the families and babies across Sussex,” she said.

“My priority will be to listen carefully to harmed and bereaved families and to engage comprehensively across communities and with staff on the ground here in Sussex.”

Liz Charlton, a mother who said there were “failings” in her care which led to the death of her baby Hazel at Worthing Hospital in 2021, told the Press Association ahead of the meeting that an opt-out independent review by Ms Ockenden would give her accountability and justice.

“The only way you can have clear change is to have the most efficient, effective review done by someone that has an evidence base of doing it, that knows how to do it, that’s done it well before,” Ms Charlton said.

“So for me, it will give me accountability and justice, I think, and overall really change for the future.”

Last month Ms Ockenden was named as chairwoman of an investigation into maternity services in Leeds.

She is also examining how hundreds of babies died or were injured in the care of Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, with a final report expected this summer.

It follows her review into mother and baby deaths at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.

The chief executive officer of UH Sussex said the trust welcomes the appointment of Ms Ockenden, but added that there is “more to do”.

Dr Andy Heeps said: “The loss of a baby is the worst thing that a parent can imagine, let alone experience. For any family who has been through such a trauma, I am deeply sorry.

“We welcome today’s announcement that a chair has been appointed to lead the independent review into Sussex maternity services. We will work openly and transparently with the Donna Ockenden review team, and with families who have used our services, because we believe external scrutiny can help drive improvement. We hope this announcement will provide some reassurance to families, and we will do everything we can to support the review and help families get the answers they seek.

“I also want to reassure families in Sussex about our maternity services today. We know that trust has to be earned through the care we provide and the action we take, and we have made important changes in recent years to strengthen the safety and quality of the care we provide to people now. That work never ends, and our staff remain deeply committed to providing safe, compassionate care to every woman, baby and family who uses our services.

“We know there is more to do, and we will keep working with openness, humility and determination to deliver the safest and best care possible.”

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