Health Secretary Wes Streeting has been warned that an inquiry into preventable baby deaths in Sussex will fail to learn lessons because it has “systematically” excluded dozens of families. The warning comes ahead of a meeting with bereaved parents on Wednesday.
Streeting ordered a review of nine infant deaths at University Hospitals Sussex NHS foundation trust amid maternity scandals. However, families say the scope is too narrow and are calling for an expansion to include all babies who died between 2019 and 2023 and might have survived with better care. To date, families of more than 60 babies have raised concerns.
Dr Marija Pantelic, whose baby Sasha died in January 2022, said the review’s opt-in nature would exclude those least able to navigate the system, particularly ethnic minorities. She warned that relying on an “overwhelmingly white and British” group of parents would miss issues like racism, as Black women are more than twice as likely to die in childbirth in the UK.
Parents want the inquiry led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, who is leading similar investigations in Nottingham and Leeds. They also want the review to actively seek out affected families rather than relying only on those who have come forward.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the government is committed to ensuring the review process does not add to families’ burdens and that their experiences will shape a review tailored to Sussex, with updates to be provided soon.
