People who believe they may have been affected by alleged failings at a hospital are being offered free legal advice. 

Law firm Slater and Gordon says those who have suffered from alleged malpractice at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton have been "left in the dark" since a police investigation began. 

Sussex Police are investigating concerns around neurosurgery and general surgery at the hospital between 2015 and 2021.

Operation Bamber is now reported to involve alleged mistakes in the treatment of more than 100 patients, including at least 40 who died.

There are still families of the affected patients waiting to be told by Sussex Police that their cases are part of the investigation.

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust has not suspended the surgeons alleged to be involved.

Now lawyers from Slater and Gordon are holding a day-long event for anyone who feels they have been affected by the investigation but are not receiving adequate support from Sussex Police.

There were recently found to be failings in the hospital’s maternity department. An inquest into the death of baby Abigail Fowler Miller, who died two days after she was delivered via caesarean section in a waiting room, found that had better and more timely care been provided in the run-up to her birth, Abigail’s life would have been significantly prolonged.

Abigail’s parents, Katie Fowler and Robert Miller, are represented by Slater and Gordon. Their lawyer, Nisha Sharma, will be attending the legal clinic.

“There are many questions being asked about the care provided by the Royal Sussex County Hospital, and rightly so. What we know so far is deeply concerning, and patients deserve answers,” says principal lawyer Nisha, a clinical negligence specialist.

“Information on Operation Bramber is largely not forthcoming.

“From the enquiries and instructions we have received so far from patients impacted by the Royal Sussex, we know that many people feel they are being left in the dark and are badly in need of support.

“By arranging this legal clinic, we hope to be able to meet with anyone affected and see how we can help.”

Sussex Police say they are contacting families included in Operation Bamber and offering support.

“A dedicated team of specially trained officers have been contacting those patients or families of patients whose cases will be included in the investigation and providing information to support them while the investigation is ongoing,” said a spokeswoman for the force.

“This specialist support will be available to them as our enquiries continue.

“The investigation is at an early stage and this does not necessarily mean this will lead to criminal prosecution.”

University Hospitals Trust Sussex said it will continue to work with police during the investigation.

"The primary concern of everyone at University Hospitals Sussex is providing safe and effective care for our patients,” said a spokeswoman.

READ MORE: Sussex hospital refuses to suspend surgeons during death inquiry

“We are fully supportive of the work of Sussex Police regarding their investigation into some areas of surgery in the past and will continue to offer them every possible assistance."

The legal clinic will take place on February 2, from 10am to 4pm, at the Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton.

The death of Abigail Fowler Miller is not included in Operation Bamber.