Lessons from Maternity Tragedies at University Hospitals Sussex
Posted on in Medical Negligence
As a specialist medical negligence team representing families affected by stillbirth and neonatal death, we read the recent investigation by BBC News and the New Statesman with profound concern.
The findings regarding maternity services at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust are not simply matters of policy or performance metrics. They are about babies who should have survived, and parents who instead left the hospital in shock and grief with empty arms.
The Families Behind the Figures
The BBC’s joint investigation recounts the stories of two couples who met at antenatal classes in Sussex in 2022. Both were expecting their first sons. Both had chosen the name Felix. Within weeks, both babies had died under the care of the same trust.
Beth Cooper attended the hospital repeatedly in the days before the loss of her baby boy, reporting reduced movements alongside vomiting and headaches. She was monitored and reassured. She recalls feeling that her concerns were attributed to anxiety as a first-time mother, which is a story we frequently hear from our own clients. Devastatingly, on Christmas Eve, no heartbeat could be found.
Sophie Hartley, nearly 42 weeks pregnant, reported what she believed to be meconium (baby’s first poo) and struggled to get through to the hospital by phone. She was assessed, but not continuously monitored, and sent home. Hours later, following delays and unsuccessful attempts to find a heartbeat, her son was delivered by emergency caesarean section. He died the following day. An inquest found that he had been without a heartbeat for approximately 20 minutes before birth, and that infection had reduced his ability to withstand the lack of oxygen.
In our work acting for bereaved families and those whose babies have survived but suffered brain damage, a common theme emerges - repeated attendances, worsening symptoms, and missed opportunities to intervene and escalate care.
Missed Opportunities and Accountability
According to the BBC investigation, University Hospital Sussex conducted 227 internal Perinatal Mortality Review Tool (PMRT) reviews between 2019 and 2023. At least 55 cases were graded C or D - indicating that different care may have, or was likely to have, made a difference to the outcome. A review of nine antenatal stillbirths in 2021 and 2022 reportedly identified “missed opportunities in all cases”.
Listening to Mothers
A recurring theme among families is the feeling that their voices were not heard. Reports of reduced movements, severe pain, bleeding, or other warning signs were, in some cases, not escalated with appropriate urgency.
The investigation also highlights concerns about a “normal birth” culture – a strong focus on vaginal delivery with as little medical intervention as possible. In 2019, the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch issued a Letter of Concern to a predecessor trust, warning that too much emphasis on “normality” could lead to harm.
There is nothing wrong with supporting vaginal birth. However, problems arise when that approach takes priority over clinical judgement. Healthcare professionals are not expected to be perfect, but they are required to provide reasonable care, monitor mothers and babies properly, act on warning signs, and listen to concerns. When risks are identified, timely induction or a caesarean section can save lives and avoid catastrophic injuries from occurring.
We have represented many families whose experiences mirror what has been reported in Sussex - parents who did everything right, sought help repeatedly, but were not listened to and were reassured until it was too late.
Beyond Compensation
For many families, legal action is not primarily about financial compensation. It is about understanding what happened and ensuring it does not happen again, seeking accountability where care fell below a reasonable standard.
The grief following stillbirth or neonatal death is lifelong. Parents mark anniversaries quietly; siblings grow up knowing the name of a brother or sister who should have been part of their lives. Relationships, careers, and mental health are often profoundly affected.
A thorough, independent review can provide answers, acknowledge failings, and drive change.
The most powerful message emerging from the BBC’s reporting is simple: families want to be heard. When mothers report reduced movements or feel that something is wrong, their voices must matter. When internal reviews identify missed opportunities, those findings must lead to action.
How we can help
As a medical negligence team acting for bereaved families, we see the human consequences when systems fail and where treatment falls below an acceptable level of care.
If you or your family have suffered because of medical negligence, we'll help you to rebuild your life for the future. Contact us today and let us help you.