TMLEP’s lead healthcare investigator Nina Vegad calls for transparent investigation and systemic change following recent developments at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
Recent developments at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust have sent a sobering message across the healthcare landscape. As reported by BBC News, the number of deaths and injuries under police investigation at the Trust has more than doubled, now encompassing more than 200 cases across various departments.
These cases, which include allegations of avoidable deaths, poor treatment, and whistleblower suppression, point to something far more serious than isolated clinical errors. They suggest deep-rooted, systemic governance malfunctions, malfunctions that may have been preventable had concerns been listened to and investigated earlier.
At TMLEP, we understand that behind every case is a patient, a family, and often, staff who tried to speak up. The scale and sensitivity of such failures demand more than internal reviews, they require independent, structured, and transparent investigation to rebuild trust and drive reform.
When systemic risk replaces isolated error
When failures repeat across services for example, maternity, cardiology, orthopaedics, and over multiple years, we are no longer talking about individual lapses. We are confronting systemic weakness:
- Ineffective clinical governance, where safety signals are missed or dismissed.
- Suppressed whistleblowing, where staff feel punished rather than protected for raising concerns.
- A culture of denial, where reputation management overshadows patient care.
In the Sussex case, several former staff members have publicly stated that they tried to raise issues, only to be ignored or forced out. This is sadly not unique. TMLEP’s work across the UK has shown that many clinical incidents escalate not because they were unforeseeable, but because early warnings were missed, mismanaged, or muted.
What independent investigation brings to light
At TMLEP, our role is to carry out thorough, impartial investigations into clinical incidents, with a core focus on identifying why harm occurred, not just what happened. When applied to a systemic context, our methods provide:
- Holistic analysis of patterns and trends, not just one-off events.
- Multi-departmental insight, connecting risks across services, teams, or management structures.
- A protected space for clinicians and whistleblowers to share concerns without fear of reprisal.
- Clear recommendations, based on expert clinical and governance review, to prevent recurrence and support long-term learning.
By holding a mirror up to the system, unflinchingly and independently, we create space for accountability and genuine change.
Why internal reviews are not enough
Too often, internal reviews lack transparency or independence, especially when the institution under scrutiny is also the one reviewing its own conduct. In high-profile or high-volume cases, internal processes may:
- Narrow the scope.
- Fail to gain the trust of staff and families.
- Miss interrelated failures between clinical care, management, and policy implementation.
Independent investigations, by contrast, can work alongside regulators and legal processes, not in conflict with them. At TMLEP, we collaborate with NHS bodies, Trusts, coroners, and legal teams to ensure that findings are clinically robust, legally defensible, and practically implementable.
A call for proactive learning, not reactive response
It should not take media pressure, police involvement, or tragedy on a mass scale to trigger meaningful review. NHS Trusts must adopt a proactive approach to safety, integrating regular external reviews, structured feedback loops, and clear whistleblowing channels into their governance frameworks.
TMLEP’s independent clinical investigations are designed to help organisations do just that. Whether as part of a post-incident response, a cultural review, or a learning and development strategy, these investigations provide a vital tool to anticipate risk, not simply respond to it.
Conclusion: Trust begins with transparency
The crisis at Sussex Trust, and others before it, show us what happens when systemic issues are allowed to fester unchecked. But they also highlight the importance of listening, investigating, and acting when the warning signs appear.
At TMLEP, we believe in fostering a healthcare system where learning is continuous, accountability is shared, and patient safety is central to every decision. Through independent investigation, we help organisations not just recover from failure, but evolve beyond it.
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