Sussex maternity review: scope confirmed and more than 1,000 cases to be examined

Jodi Newton

First published 15 April 2026 · Updated 22 May 2026

In April 2026, the government announced that senior midwife Donna Ockenden would lead an independent review of maternity services at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. On 13 May 2026, the government confirmed the scope of that review. Over 1,000 cases of stillbirth, neonatal death, maternal death, neonatal brain injury and severe maternal harm dating back to 2018 will now be examined.

Timeline of the review

• August 2025 — Sussex families raise concerns that the proposed review scope is too narrow and call for a chair independent of the Care Quality Commission.
• 15 April 2026 — The government appoints senior midwife Donna Ockenden to chair the review.
• 13 May 2026 — The government confirms the scope: all four hospitals in the Trust, maternity and neonatal care from 2018 to the present, with more than 1,000 cases automatically included.
• End of 2026 — Review findings expected.

This page is updated as the review progresses.

Which hospitals are covered

The Trust runs maternity services at four hospitals across Sussex, all of which fall within the review:

• The Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton
• St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester
• Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath
• Worthing Hospital, Worthing

Why families pushed for an independent review

Concerns about maternity and neonatal care at the Trust have been raised for several years. After sustained campaigning by Sussex families, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting committed to a review of maternity services. In August 2025 the families raised further concerns that the proposed scope did not go far enough, and called for a chair independent of the existing regulator, the Care Quality Commission. Donna Ockenden, who previously led the inquiry into maternity services at Nottingham, was subsequently appointed to chair the review.

The campaign group “Truth for Our Babies”, made up of families affected by poor maternity and neonatal care at the Trust, has been central to securing the review. The group’s aim is not only to get answers for affected families, but to secure changes that prevent future harm.

What cases will be reviewed

The review will examine maternity and neonatal care from 2018 to the present, focused on cases involving any of the following outcomes:

• Stillbirths
• Neonatal death
• Maternal death
• Neonatal brain injury
• Severe maternal harm

Every family whose care falls within these terms of reference will be included automatically, unless they choose to opt out. More than 1,000 cases are expected to form part of the review. Ms Ockenden will also have the power to review cases from before 2018 where families believe their case meets the other criteria.

Donna Ockenden on the review

“It’s a privilege to have the trust of so many families across Sussex. Family voices will run through the heart of the review; their perspective is essential in ensuring that the review is fully inclusive and reflective of their experiences, and meets their needs.

“My team and I are fully committed to ensuring that hearing from and learning from family experiences and the voices of current and former staff ‘on the ground’ across Sussex will shape improvements at the trust to the benefit of both families and staff.”

Jodi Newton on what this means for families

Jodi Newton, Partner and Head of Birth Injury at Osbornes Law, comments:

“The scope of this review is wide ranging, spanning nearly a decade of maternity and neonatal care. The affected families have worked hard to ensure that the investigation will fearlessly explore the care provided. I hope they will receive answers, and that any patterns or system failures are identified. It is important that lessons are learned and avoidable harm prevented. Each case reviewed represents a tragedy, carrying a personal cost that impacts entire families, and frequently an economic one.”

Our work for Sussex families

Osbornes Law represents a number of Sussex families, including members of Truth for Our Babies, in stillbirth and cerebral palsy claims arising from care at the Trust.

One of those families is Lucia and George Ford-Ferrari, whose daughter Freya was stillborn at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in July 2023 after avoidable failings in her care at Princess Royal Hospital. The Trust has admitted that, had Lucia been referred to an obstetrician at her earlier attendance, Freya’s death could, on the balance of probabilities, have been avoided.

Nicholas Leahy, Senior Associate in our Medical Negligence Department, spoke to BBC News about Freya’s case and maternity care at the Trust:

If your care may fall within the review

If you believe your maternity or neonatal care at any of the four hospitals may be covered by the review, please get in touch. You do not need to wait for the review’s final report before asking us to investigate. We can look at the circumstances of your care independently, alongside whatever the review produces in due course.

Our Medical Negligence team has years of experience representing families in similar situations in Sussex and across England and Wales.

Contact Osbornes or complete our online enquiry form to speak to the medical negligence team.