NHS Trust Review Reveals 55 Baby Deaths Possibly Preventable with Better Care
A shocking review conducted by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust has concluded that at least 55 babies who died under its care between 2019 and 2023 might have survived if they had received better medical attention. The findings have sparked outrage among bereaved families and prompted calls for a comprehensive public inquiry.
Independent Investigation Expanded Amid Growing Concerns
Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced an independent investigation into maternity care at the trust last June. The probe has since been expanded to include 15 families, who are currently in discussions with the Government regarding the appointment of a chair and the terms of reference for the review.
The trust's internal review, spanning from 2019 to 2023, examined maternity deaths and determined that a different outcome was possible in 55 cases. According to Freedom of Information data obtained by the advocacy group Truth for Our Babies, the trust conducted 227 internal hospital reviews into maternity deaths during this period.
At least 55 of these cases were graded C or D by the trust, indicating that alternative care either may have or was likely to have changed the outcome. This grading system highlights significant concerns about the quality of care provided.
Families Demand Accountability and Experienced Leadership
Robert Miller, whose daughter Abigail Fowler Miller died just two days after her birth at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton in January 2022, has spoken out about the tragedy. An inquest concluded that Abigail would likely have survived if her mother, Katie Fowler, had received medical treatment sooner. Ms. Fowler also suffered a cardiac arrest during the ordeal.
Mr. Miller is among those advocating for senior midwife and investigator Donna Ockenden to lead the investigation. He emphasized that families need someone they trust to avoid further trauma. "It's about our trauma and our harm and not being re-traumatised unnecessarily," he said. "We're scared of being re-traumatised and having more harm done to us through this process by someone who perhaps has never done it before on this scale."
He also expressed dissatisfaction with the current national maternity review led by Baroness Amos, stating that it does not go far enough. Mr. Miller insists that a judge-led public inquiry is necessary to hold individuals accountable and compel evidence. "We're not seeing improvements quickly enough," he added, referring to the situation in Sussex.
Trust Acknowledges Failures and Implements Changes
A Care Quality Commission report from December highlighted that maternity care at the Royal Sussex County Hospital still requires improvement. Mr. Miller noted that this is only a slight step up from an inadequate rating four years ago, stressing that "improvement is not happening quick enough to save babies' lives."
In response, Dr. Andy Heeps, chief executive of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, issued a heartfelt apology. "No words can truly express the heartbreak of losing a child," he said. "To every family who has experienced this unimaginable loss, I want to say directly: we did not always get things right. As chief executive, I take responsibility for that, and I am deeply sorry for the pain and distress you experienced while under our care."
Dr. Heeps outlined several measures the trust has implemented to enhance maternity services:
- Recruitment of 40 additional midwives across four maternity units, achieving full staffing levels.
- Increased theatre capacity for planned Caesarean births.
- Introduction of a dedicated telephone triage service staffed by highly experienced midwives.
He acknowledged that these changes "are making a difference" but admitted that "there is always more to do." Data from the trust shows a reduction in the perinatal mortality rate to 2.19 per 1,000 births as of last October, down from approximately three per 1,000 in April 2024. Over the past three years, the rate has remained below the national average.
Detailed Account of a Tragic Case
In Mr. Miller's case, after what was described as a "straightforward" pregnancy, Ms. Fowler went into labor at home on January 21, 2022. She made multiple calls to the hospital, reporting bleeding, faintness, and shortness of breath. The couple eventually traveled to the hospital by taxi, where Ms. Fowler suffered a uterine rupture and cardiac arrest, requiring 20 minutes of resuscitation.
Abigail was delivered via emergency Caesarean section but took 40 minutes to be resuscitated and stabilized. Ms. Fowler was placed in an induced coma and awakened on January 23 to meet her daughter, who died later that day. An inquest and a Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch report both concluded that earlier medical intervention could have prevented the tragedy.
Government and Trust Commit to Ongoing Improvements
A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman reiterated the government's commitment to providing answers for bereaved families. "Every family who has lost a baby deserves answers, and we are determined to ensure they get them," she said. "No one should experience substandard maternity care, and this government will not rest until women, babies and families get the care they need, in Sussex and beyond."
The spokeswoman also emphasized that bereaved families will remain central to Baroness Amos' national investigation, with a recent call for evidence allowing affected women and families to share their experiences.
As the investigations continue, the trust and government face mounting pressure to ensure that such preventable tragedies are not repeated, with families calling for transparency, accountability, and swift action to improve maternity care standards across the NHS.
