Sussex families felt ‘unseen’ on the bright maternity review

Families called to investigate maternity care in the former Sussex say they feel “ignored, tired and dismissed” after meeting the national review chair.

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

All the children were lost under university hospitals, Sussex NHS Trust, campaigning for 18 months for an inquiry and insisting that senior babysitter Dai Donna Okenden has been appointed to lead it.

The Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment.

In June, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced Rapid review In England, in maternity services and last week appointed a former senior diplomatic baronic Baronic Amos to lead it. Streeting said that he wanted the work to be completed by December and his maternity services would be investigated as part of the investigation to 10 local areas.

Nine families in Sussex, who say that medical errors led the death of their children, were promised to review by streetting and the group thought that the meeting with Barona Amos would pursue the matter.

But he said that the chair told him that he did not know about the history or expectations of the families, and he did not have the power to decide who would lead it.

The families said in a statement, “We have talked directly to Ves Streeting and repeatedly to the Department of Health and Social Care.

“To separate an hour of our time for a meeting, where proper preparations were not done, was deeply controversial, and to realize that we have not yet progressed on our review, despite the several months of presenting a clear case for one, despite the conditions of reference, drafting the terms of reference and securing Donna Okenden’s support, this is notorious.”

Ms. Okenden is currently reviewing the maternity care in Nottingham, who is first investigating services at Shruusbari and Telford NHS Trust.

Shortly before the meeting, families were told that Catherine Whitehill, a former Inspector of the Care Quality Commission, was appointed as an investigator on the review, causing anger in many families, which faced poor maternity care.

The statement of the families stated that the bereaved parents were promised that they would be advised on any appointments and can be constantly fed back to the government that this investigation cannot be done by anyone working for regulators responsible for keeping trusts responsible for maternity security.

“These organizations are part of the system that continued to provide unprotected maternity care, and as if it should be part of the focus of the investigation rather than pursuing it.”

The statement said that Ms. Whitehill’s appointment “creates serious doubts about whether the review may be independent or reliable”.

Group’s concerns come in view of criticism of rapid review from a broad group of families last week.

Maternity Safety Alliance, which represents families in the areas, who has experienced poor maternity care, stated that the investigation of streeting was “ruined to fail” before the behavior of the Health Department and NHS England was “ruined”.

Some other families, however, have expressed their desire to work with Barrows Amos.