Bereaved Sussex families call for inquiry into maternity services

The nine families have collectively written to their MPs to call for action against the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, after all lost babies at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, Worthing Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

Of the nine bereaved mothers, four said they almost died between 2021 and 2023, as a result of “poor standards of care” from the maternity teams.

Abigail Fowler-Miller died at two days old (Image: Supplied)

The nine baby deaths include Abigail Fowler Miller, from Brighton, whose inquest concluded at the end of last year that her life would have been “significantly prolonged” if not for errors in care. She died at two days old last January 23.

Parents Robyn Davis and Jonny Davis, from Steyning, have also contributed to the letter. Their son Orlando died at 14 days old. A coroner ruled that neglect contributed to Orlando’s death after his mother’s rare condition in labour went unrecognised.

Baby Esme Vowels-Lovett was stillborn after her mother Chloe Vowels-Lovett experienced “horrible stabbing pains” at the end of her pregnancy. She and her husband, from Southwater, near Horsham, who spent seven years trying to conceive, have also signed the letter.

Toby and Chloe Vowels-Lovett's baby Esme was stillborn (Image: PA)

READ MORE: Mum had developed 'rare condition' before troubled birth and death of her son

The families have called for a public inquiry into the trust’s maternity services to ensure accountability for its “systemic failures” and so they learn from past mistakes.

“With the volume and repetition of errors in maternity care by the trust, we believe that babies and potentially mothers will continue to unnecessarily die under the trust’s care unless there is additional intervention,” the nine families, all of whom live in Sussex area, write in their letter.

The families say mothers were not being listened to and there was "a reluctance from maternity teams to act urgently", among other issues.

Prior to the General Election being called, the families were in contact with their local MPs – including Andrew Griffith, Peter Kyle, Tim Loughton and Caroline Lucas – for support in securing an independent review from Health Secretary Victoria Atkins.

The families have spoken of being compelled to call for action after the “immeasurable losses” of their children have left them with “unanswered questions, no guarantee that these mistakes won’t be repeated, and the lifelong trauma and grief caused by the death of a baby”.

"All our babies were otherwise healthy and would have grown up if not for the failings in care and the dismissal of our concerns,” the families say.

“Our children lost an entire life: they never got a chance to grow up, to learn to walk and speak, to make friends, to witness the awe and beauty of our planet.

“Though our babies left their mark on this world in many meaningful ways, they had so much more to give and experience. This is a loss to us as parents, to our families and to society as a whole."

Baby Abigail Fowler-Miller died at two days old (Image: UHSussex)

Dr Maggie Davies, chief nurse at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We offer our deepest condolences and sincere apologies to each of the bereaved families for their devastating loss.

“Whilst we recognise that no words can ease their pain, our dedicated teams are committed to listening, learning and improving the service, so that mothers-to-be, mothers and their babies are as safe as they possibly can be whilst in our care.

“We have recruited more midwives, changed how we listen to and support families, and we have a nationally recommended triage process to help react quickly if there are any reasons for concern.

“Our outcomes for mothers and babies are now better than most other trusts in the country, but we know we must continue to listen and improve, and would always want to meet any families who have concerns to understand their experiences and make changes where possible.”