Royal Sussex sees unannounced CQC inspection

The Royal Sussex County Hospital was subject to a two-day inspection of its maternity services and its A&E department – both of which have previously fared badly in CQC ratings.

The maternity department is rated as ‘inadequate’ and is subject to calls for an inquiry from a group of bereaved parents, following the deaths of nine babies within three years at University Hospitals Sussex (UHS) hospitals due to failings by maternity services.

A&E is rated as ‘requires improvement’ and concerns have previously been raised by CQC over its standards of safety, and the dignity and privacy given to patients.

The Royal Sussex is also currently being investigated by Sussex Police as part of Operation Bramber, which focuses on allegations of clinical negligence within the general surgery and neurosurgery departments at the Trust from 2015 to 2021.

The investigation has doubled in size since it was launched in May 2023, and is now understood to include more than 200 cases, including potentially more than 90 deaths.

The CQC has previously pointed to systemic failings within UHS, including the “culture of fear” which saw staff afraid to speak out, and a lack of leadership from the Trust’s senior team.

The findings of its latest inspection at the Royal Sussex will be announced in the coming weeks.

The poor standards of care at the Royal Sussex and other hospitals within UHS are seeing increasing numbers of people and families turning to law firm Slater and Gordon to support them in finding answers over what went wrong in their individual cases.

“There are very real concerns within the local community about the quality of care being delivered by the Royal Sussex, with poor CQC ratings and a police investigation only serving to exacerbate this,” says Holly Cossutta, senior associate in clinical negligence at Slater and Gordon.

“As a firm, we are supporting growing numbers of individuals and families in claims against the Trust following experiences of poor care, and see first-hand the trauma and devastation this can cause. We also hear directly from our clients about the failings that exist at the Royal Sussex and wider Trust and recognise the systemic issues that affect so many lives.

“The CQC has previously given the lowest possible rating to maternity services at UHS, and the second lowest to A&E, and we know these concerns persist among those who depend on the Royal Sussex for the care of them and their loved ones. We await the findings of this latest inspection with interest.”