Sussex Maternity Review Begins with Bereaved Parents'
An independent review led by midwife Donna Ockenden into Sussex maternity services has launched, with bereaved parents set to give evidence following
Bereaved parents will give evidence to a major independent review of maternity and neonatal services in Sussex. The review, led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, launched with a public meeting in Brighton after months of campaigning by families.
Susan Cacciacarro is among those set to testify. She was almost 37 weeks pregnant in 2021 when she woke unable to feel her baby moving. Her daughter Chiara, diagnosed with a heart condition at a 20-week scan, was delivered stillborn at Worthing hospital. "I've never felt so devastated and so crushed," Cacciacarro said. "Your world turns upside down."
The Scope of the Review
The review is expected to investigate more than 1,000 maternity and neonatal cases dating back to 2018. Ockenden, who led previous landmark inquiries in Shrewsbury, Telford, and Nottingham, stated her priority is to listen to families. "We will proactively reach out to ensure that the voices of seldom-heard families are heard," she said. A joint investigation by the New Statesman and the BBC in February revealed at least 55 baby deaths might have been avoidable with better care from University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
A Campaign for Answers
Campaigners from the Truth for Our Babies group are urging other affected families to participate. Cacciacarro, now a mother of two, hopes the review provides answers. "I felt robbed when we lost Chiara," she said. She emphasized that accountability and driving safety improvements are most important for families. "We definitely don't want other families to go through this."
Institutional Responses
Dr. Andy Heeps, chief executive of University Hospitals Sussex, said the trust's thoughts remain with the families. "We welcome Donna Ockenden's review and remain committed to fully supporting the process," he stated. He added that maternity teams have implemented many changes and will work with the review to find new ways to improve safety.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson offered sympathy to the families failed by the services. The department cited work through a national taskforce and increased investment in maternity safety to ensure safer care across the NHS. The review's terms of reference were discussed directly with families at the launch meeting.
