‘I felt robbed’: bereaved parents hope for answers from Sussex maternity review

A public inquiry into the maternity services of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust was launched on Saturday, following a campaign by bereaved families and a joint New Statesman‑BBC investigation that suggested at least 55 infant deaths could have been avoided. The review, chaired by Donna Ockenden—renowned for previous inquiries into Shrewsbury and Telford, Nottingham and Leeds maternity units—will examine more than 1,000 maternity and neonatal cases dating back to 2018. One of the families speaking at the Brighton launch was Susan Cacciacarro, who was 37 weeks pregnant with her daughter Chiara in 2021 when she woke up unable to feel fetal movements; a subsequent scan at Worthing Hospital failed to detect a heartbeat and Chiara was delivered stillborn, leaving Cacciacarro “feeling robbed” and demanding answers for the harmed and bereaved.

The impetus for the review stems from a February exposé that highlighted systemic shortcomings in the trust’s handling of high‑risk pregnancies, including missed opportunities to intervene when Chiara’s growth stalled at 34 weeks. Despite being classified as high risk after a 20‑week diagnosis of a cardiac defect, the hospital did not accelerate delivery, adhering instead to a planned 39‑week birth date. The investigation’s findings have amplified calls for accountability and transparency, with families emphasizing that the primary goal is to improve safety and prevent further tragedies. Ockenden outlined a “finer‑details” approach, pledging to engage directly with affected families, especially those who are seldom heard, and to ensure the review’s scope reflects their experiences, thereby facilitating meaningful improvements in care.

University Hospitals Sussex’s chief executive, Dr Andy Heeps, expressed sympathy for the families and pledged full cooperation with the Ockenden review, noting that the trust has already implemented “many positive changes” in recent years and will continue to seek safer practices. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson echoed this sentiment, linking the inquiry to broader national efforts—including the maternity and neonatal taskforce, increased investment in safety, and reforms inspired by earlier Ockenden and Amos reviews—to deliver more compassionate, consistent care across the NHS. The Truth for Our Babies (TFOB) campaigners, who organized the public meeting, urged other affected families to come forward, hoping the review will not only provide answers but also drive systemic change that safeguards future mothers and infants.

⚡ Effects Interpreter