GRIEVING parents have told of their heartbreak after maternity services in West Sussex were again rated as “requires improvement,” despite concerns having initially been raised five years ago.

The maternity units at Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester were given that rating following an inspection last year, after first receiving it in 2021.

Kimberley Newark and Yann Trupiano lost their baby Olivia in the trust care’s in September 2024.

Ms Newark said: “It is really concerning. It’s heartbreaking to hear… You would have thought, after five years, there would have been some sort of change where the rating would have gone up.”

Mr Trupiano added he felt “tired” of hearing that improvements were needed.

Ms Newark went to Princess Royal Hospital with severe pain in September 2024 but felt “dismissed.”

She had an emergency C-section and Olivia was born with a critical brain injury, dying several days later.

An inquest is due in October.

The Care Quality Commission found a previous legal breach on staffing remained.

Inspectors also said equipment failures regularly forced the maternity theatre to close, causing delays.

Campaign group Truth for Our Babies, of which the couple are members, has been calling for a government maternity review of the trust, which will look at cases dating back to 2018.

A trust spokesperson said it was “desperately sorry” for the loss of Olivia and would “do everything we can to help the coroner.”

The commission said it had asked leaders to submit an action plan, adding: “We have also made clear what regulatory action we will take if we’re not reassured by their plan.”