Further to our previous article, regarding deaths of babies in Sussex, families across Sussex and beyond want maternity care that is safe, compassionate and consistent. An independent review led by Donna Ockenden is now examining maternity services in Sussex with the aim of identifying what has gone wrong, what is working well, and what must change to protect parents and babies.

Donna Ockenden being named as the chair of the investigation is an important step for families. She is one of the country’s foremost experts on maternity safety and led the landmark review into Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust. She is also currently chairing reviews at both Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Donna Ockenden, on being named as the chair, said that ‘It is an honour to have been asked to chair this review and I am absolutely aware of the responsibility I have to the families and babies across Sussex. My priority will be to listen carefully to harmed and bereaved families and to engage comprehensively across communities and with staff ‘on the ground’ here in Sussex. We will proactively reach out to ensure that the voices of seldom-heard families are heard through this review. It is vital that the scope of the review now reflects the experiences of families and enables a thorough and meaningful examination of care, so that improvements can be made as the review progresses.’

What is the independent maternity review?

The review is an independent examination of maternity services in Sussex. Its purpose is to look at care provided to mothers and babies, identify patterns and themes in outcomes and experiences, and make clear, practical recommendations to improve safety, quality and transparency. Independence means the review team is separate from the local NHS trusts and is not influenced by their management or internal processes. This distance is important to ensure that findings are objective and that families can have confidence in the conclusions.

The review is designed to listen to families and staff, examine clinical records and policies, and assess whether national safety standards and local procedures have been followed. It will consider how concerns were handled, whether learning from incidents has been embedded, and how well services communicate with patients and among clinical teams.

What is the scope of the Sussex review?

The review will examine a defined period of maternity care in Sussex, for which the timeframe is to be confirmed, across relevant NHS trusts and care settings. It will focus on antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care, including the following areas:

• Clinical outcomes for mothers and babies, including serious incidents and adverse events.
• The quality and consistency of risk assessment, escalation and decision-making.
• Staffing levels, training, supervision and multidisciplinary working.
• Compliance with national guidance and local policies relating to safety.
• Communication with families, including informed consent and candour after incidents.
• How concerns, complaints and incidents were identified, investigated and learned from.

The review will collect information from clinical notes, incident reports and policies, and from interviews and listening events with families and staff. It will look for trends and recurring themes rather than focusing only on single cases, and it will identify both good practice and areas requiring urgent change.

Why is this review happening?

Maternity care involves complex clinical decisions at critical moments. When systems are under pressure, problems can occur in assessment, escalation, teamwork and communication. Nationally, a series of reviews has highlighted the need for stronger safety cultures, better learning from incidents and improved support for families. The Sussex review sits within this wider picture and is intended to ensure that local services meet the highest standards of safety and compassion, and that where harm has occurred, there is honest learning and clear action.

How will families and staff be involved?

Independence and transparency require listening carefully to those directly affected. The review is expected to invite families to share their experiences through dedicated channels, with appropriate support and confidentiality. Staff will also be invited to speak up about good practice and concerns in a safe environment. The review team will consider personal testimonies alongside clinical evidence to build a complete and fair picture of care.

What will the review produce?

• Findings that explain what happened and why, identifying systemic issues and examples of good practice.
• Recommendations for immediate and longer-term improvements, prioritised by risk and impact.
• Advice on governance, culture, training and ways of working that support safety and openness.
• A plan for monitoring progress so that recommendations lead to real and lasting change.
• A public report is expected to be published at the conclusion of the review. Where urgent risks are identified, interim recommendations may be issued so that improvements can begin without delay.

Why safety and transparency matter

Safe maternity care depends on skilled teams, clear protocols, and a culture where concerns are heard and acted upon.  Transparency builds trust. When things go wrong, honest explanations and meaningful learning are essential for families and for the staff who care deeply about their patients. This independent review is a chance to recognise what is working, confront what is not, and make maternity services safer and more responsive for everyone.