Legal clinic to support families impacted by UHS Trust failings

For the past year, the Royal Sussex County Hospital has been subject to the Operation Bramber police investigation, which is looking into allegations of negligence by surgeons between 2015 and 2021. It is understood that more than 100 cases are being investigated at the Brighton hospital, including at least 40 fatalities.

Separately, the Trust has been subject to significant criticism for failings in its maternity services, which have seen the Trust’s hospitals – the Royal Sussex, alongside Worthing Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath – face calls from bereaved parents for a public inquiry.

Reports from the CQC and Royal College of Surgeons both found a “culture of fear” at the Trust, and whistleblowers in the Operation Bramber investigation have spoken of attempts to silence them from speaking out with their concerns over patient welfare.

Law firm Slater and Gordon previously held a legal clinic to support people from Brighton and the surrounding areas who had been impacted by poor standards of care by University Hospitals Sussex – and following significant demand for its advice, free appointments are again being offered to anyone who wants to discuss their leal position.

The consultations will be on September 19 and will be online, to maximise opportunities for people to attend wherever they may be that day. Appointments can be booked in advance and will give the opportunity to speak directly to one of Slater and Gordon’s clinical negligence specialists.

The law firm, which has an office in Brighton, is already acting for patients with claims against the Royal Sussex and wider University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust, with increasing numbers of people seeking advice in relation to Operation Bramber.

Nisha Sharma, principal lawyer at Slater and Gordon, urged anyone with concerns over the standards of treatment and care they have received to seek advice.

“There are many questions being asked about the care provided by this Trust, and rightly so. This is deeply concerning and patients need and deserve answers,” says Nisha.

“We are seeing a very significant increase in people wanting to speak to us about Operation Bramber, and their legal position around that, in light of the very poor care they have received. Maternity services are another area in which people have deep concerns, and we are supporting many families who have suffered from appalling failings.

“By arranging this legal clinic, we will be available to speak with anyone who has concerns and help them in any way we can. We understand the concerns that exist in the community about standards of care within this Trust, and by being on-hand to share our legal expertise, hope to support people who have been impacted through a very difficult time.”

To book an appointment at the Slater and Gordon legal clinic, which will be held online on Thursday, September 19, contact Nisha Sharma on 0330 995 5687 or Nisha.sharma@slatergordon.uk