Dad calls for faster progress on baby deaths review

A father whose baby died in hospital aged two days has called for the investigation into NHS maternity care to "progress a bit further, a bit quicker".

Baroness Amos, chairwoman of the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, published her "reflections and initial impressions" in a report on Tuesday.

Robert Miller, whose daughter Abigail died in 2022 at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, said: "It's disappointing that she hasn't managed to get any further with the report at this stage, but we're pleased that she does seem to be making some progress."

A spokesperson for the investigation said hearing from women and families was "a priority".

The spokesperson added the investigation recognised the importance to families of delivering final recommendations "as quickly as possible" and that site visits would continue throughout December and January.

"All information shared with us is properly considered and helps in shaping our findings," added the spokesperson.

"Baroness Amos is grateful to all families for their time and contribution."

Baroness Amos wrote that she had consistently heard women felt "blamed and guilty" for their baby's death and had experienced "a lack of empathy, care or apology" when things went wrong.

"Nothing prepared me for the scale of unacceptable care that women and families have received, and continue to receive," she said.

Mr Miller said: "It's not shocking to us, we've been there, we've seen it, we've lived it.

"I think it's important that she sees the depth and trauma that families have suffered, so I'm pleased that she's acknowledged that."

Mr Miller's daughter died after his partner Katie Fowler had an emergency Caesarean.

An inquest found Abigail's life would have been prolonged if her mother had been admitted to hospital sooner.

"It's the biggest emotion that I've ever felt mentally and physically in my life," Mr Miller told the BBC.

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, is one of 12 trusts to be examined during the investigation, but it will not be visited or asked for documents until 2026, the BBC understands.

Mr Miller said he was looking forward to meeting Baroness Amos when she comes to Sussex and "we are going to make the most of telling her about the failings that happened, that led to Abigail's death".

University Hospitals Sussex previously said it had offered "condolences and sincere apologies" to Abigail's family and was "committed to listening, learning and constantly improving".

Its "key maternity safety measures have improved significantly" since, the trust said.

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