Bereaved families demand independent review into Sussex maternity care
They're meeting with Wes Streeting today
Bereaved families are meeting with the Health Secretary in Brighton today to urge for an independent review into local maternity care.
The Truth for our Babies group will call on Wes Streeting to investigate maternity care at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust, as they claim more than 60 families' lives ahave been "altered forever" by their experiences.
The group is calling for the review to be chaired by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, who is chairing an ongoing Independent Review into Maternity Services at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Among them is Liz Charlton, whose baby daughter Hazel was stillborn after being conceived following six miscarriages.
"I think it's important that we come together, not only to support eachother, but to help fight for change together.
""We're hoping Wes will hear what we've been asking for for so long now."
The group added: "The experience Liz endured shows exactly why Sussex needs a full and wide-reaching independent review.
"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.”
The Trust has made improvements including recruiting new midwives and improving it's telephone triage.