Sussex maternity services undergo independent review

An independent review into maternity and neonatal services in Sussex has officially launched, led by senior midwife and maternity safety expert Donna Ockenden. The review follows months of campaigning by bereaved families and a joint investigation by the BBC and New Statesman, which suggested that at least 55 baby deaths might have been avoidable with better care from University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

During a public meeting in Brighton, Ockenden discussed the terms of reference with affected families. Among those providing evidence is Susan Cacciacarro, who lost her daughter Chiara in 2021. Cacciacarro reported that despite her high-risk pregnancy and scans showing fetal weight loss, hospital staff did not expedite the birth, leading to a stillbirth.

Ockenden has previously led landmark reviews into maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford, as well as Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, and is currently chairing reviews in Leeds.