Sussex Baby Deaths Inquiry Will ‘fail To Learn Lessons’ After Excluding Families, Streeting Warned

An enquiry into nan preventable deaths of babies successful Sussex will neglect to study nan lessons arsenic it “systematically” excluded dozens of families, Wes Streeting has been warned up of a gathering pinch bereaved parents.

The wellness caput has ordered a reappraisal of 9 babe deaths astatine nan University Hospitals Sussex NHS instauration spot amid maternity scandals crossed England. However, families are calling connected Streeting to grow nan investigation to see much than 60 babies who died betwixt 2019 and 2023 and mightiness person survived pinch amended care.

Dr Marija Pantelic, a nationalist wellness master whose babe Sasha died successful nan attraction of UH Sussex successful January 2022, said nan constrictive scope and opt-in quality of nan reappraisal was vulnerable and perchance harmful arsenic it would beryllium based connected nan experiences of an “overwhelmingly achromatic and British” group of parents.

Pantelic, whose babe is included successful nan review, said she would raise nan concerns straight pinch Streeting erstwhile he meets bereaved families connected Wednesday.

Parents want an expanded investigation to beryllium led by Donna Ockenden, nan elder nurse who is starring maternity inquiries into preventable deaths astatine NHS trusts successful Nottingham and Leeds. They besides want nan Sussex investigation to actively activity retired families who are affected truthful it is not based only connected nan 9 cases whose parents person raised nan alarm.

Pantelic, an subordinate professor successful nationalist wellness who specialises successful wellness inequalities, said it should siren Streeting that nan reappraisal would beryllium based successful nan experiences of nan “overwhelmingly achromatic and British” families who person travel forward.

“If you only perceive from definite groups, you will only spot definite problems,” she said. “For instance, you tin beryllium judge not to place racism if you only perceive from achromatic families. If you neglect to place nan existent drivers of harm, nan solutions you propose will beryllium partial astatine best, and harmful astatine worst.”

Black women are much than twice arsenic apt to dice successful childbirth compared pinch their achromatic counterparts crossed nan UK, charismatic figures show, while women from Asian backgrounds are besides astatine higher risk.

Pantelic said nan existent opt-in building of nan Sussex reappraisal would “systematically exclude those slightest capable to navigate nan system, and astir apt to person knowledgeable harm”.

She added: “The consequence is simply a vulnerable distortion. Those astatine top consequence are slightest visible successful nan evidence. This intends nan harm is often underestimated, and we extremity up misunderstanding what is really causing it. If we get nan causes wrong, nan solutions aren’t going to work.”

UH Sussex said earlier this twelvemonth that it had recruited 40 caller midwives, “eliminating” nan vacancy complaint it had astatine nan clip of a number of nan preventable deaths. Families are concerned that nan NHS trust’s consequence assumes understaffing is nan halfway rumor and that a constrictive reappraisal risks missing bigger structural failings.

Pantelic said: “Until nan causes of avoidable deaths are decently identified, projected solutions consequence missing nan mark. The group you see successful a reappraisal style what you extremity up seeing, and what you deliberation is causing nan problem.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Families person endured unacceptable failures successful maternity and we are committed to ensuring nan reappraisal process itself does not adhd to that burden.

“Their experiences and wishes will style a reappraisal that they tin person afloat assurance in, which is based connected grounds and uniquely tailored to Sussex. We will beryllium updating nan families connected advancement soon to guarantee nan reappraisal will present nan answers and accountability they deserve.”