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This is an excerpt from a BBC News article investigating maternity care failings at the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UH Sussex), focusing on two tragic cases involving couples Beth Cooper and Sophie Hartley, who both lost their babies named Felix at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.
### Key points summarized include:
– **Background & Context**
– Around winter 2022, a group of first-time pregnant couples met at antenatal classes in Sussex.
– Among them: Beth Cooper, Sophie Hartley, and their partners, all expecting baby boys named Felix.
– **The Losses**
– Both Beth and Sophie lost their babies under UH Sussex care, prompting a wider investigation.
– Beth, a neonatal nursery nurse, repeatedly reported reduced fetal movements and her own severe symptoms; each hospital visit reassured her baby’s wellbeing after CTG monitoring.
– On Christmas Eve, no fetal heartbeat was found; Felix was stillborn.
– Sophie faced repeated difficulties contacting the hospital, was reassured despite symptoms including passing meconium, and ultimately her son Felix was delivered stillborn after emergency C-section.
– **Investigation and Wider Issues**
– UK Health Secretary ordered an independent investigation, expanded to include 15 families including the two Felixes.
– The report highlights concerning patterns:
– Potentially 55 babies might have survived with better care (2019-2023).
– Reviews of recent stillbirths exposed missed clinical opportunities.
– A “normal birth” culture emphasizing minimal intervention possibly contributed to risks.
– UH Sussex paid £103.8m in maternity-related negligence claims between 2021-2025, the highest in England.
– **Trust’s Response**
– UH Sussex disputes the implication, stating mortality rates below national averages.
– Attributes high claims partly to the size of the trust, emphasizing their commitment to safety.
– **Families’ Perspective**
– Bereaved parents have formed advocacy groups—like “Truth for Our Babies”—highlighting concerns that families are being told “nothing could have been done.”
– Many parents remain unaware their babies could possibly have been saved.
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If you need more detailed information or have specific questions related to this investigation or the cases, feel free to ask!
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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