Sussex families feel ‘ignored’ over Brighton maternity review

Households calling for an inquiry into maternity care in East Sussex say they really feel “ignored, exhausted and dismissed” after assembly the chair of a nationwide assessment.

The group met with Baroness Amos on Wednesday, claiming she was poorly briefed and that no progress was made.

The households, who all misplaced infants beneath the College Hospitals Sussex NHS Belief, have been campaigning for 18 months for an inquiry and demand that senior midwife Donna Ockenden is appointed to guide it.

The Division of Well being and Social Care has been approached for remark.

In June, Well being Secretary Wes Streeting introduced a rapid review into maternity providers in England and final week appointed Baroness Amos, a former senior diplomat, to guide it. Streeting mentioned he wished the work to be accomplished by December and that as much as 10 native areas would have their maternity providers examined as a part of the investigation.

9 households in Sussex, who say medical errors led to their infants’ deaths, had been promised a assessment by Streeting and the group thought the assembly with Baroness Amos would progress the case.

However they mentioned the chair instructed them that she was not conscious of the historical past or expectations of the households, and that she didn’t have the facility to determine who would lead it.

“We have now spoken to Wes Streeting straight and to the Division of Well being & Social Care time and again in regards to the toll these conferences tackle us,” the households mentioned in an announcement.

“To put aside an hour of our time for a gathering the place applicable preparation had not taken place was deeply dispiriting, and to really feel we’ve nonetheless not made progress on our assessment, regardless of many months of presenting a transparent case for one, drafting the phrases of reference and securing the assist of Donna Ockenden, is infuriating.”

Ms Ockenden is at present main a assessment of maternity care in Nottingham having beforehand examined providers on the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS belief.

Shortly earlier than the assembly, the households had been instructed that Kathryn Whitehill, a former inspector with the Care High quality Fee, had been appointed as an investigator on the assessment, inflicting anger amongst a number of households who had suffered poor maternity care.

“Bereaved dad and mom had been promised they’d be consulted on any appointments and have persistently fed again to the federal government that this investigation can’t be undertaken by anybody working for the regulators chargeable for holding trusts accountable for maternity security,” the assertion from the households added.

“These organisations are a part of the system that has continued to ship unsafe maternity care, and as such must be a part of the main target of the investigation moderately than main it.”

The appointment of Ms Whitehill “raises severe doubts about whether or not the assessment might be impartial or trusted”, the assertion added.

The issues of the group come within the wake of criticism of the fast assessment final week from a wider group of households.

The Maternity Security Alliance, which represents households from areas which have skilled poor maternity care, mentioned Streeting’s inquiry was “doomed to fail” earlier than it has begun as a result of behaviour of the Division of Well being and NHS England.

Another households have nevertheless expressed a willingness to work with Baroness Amos.