The announcement follows months of engagement between secretary of state, Wes Streeting and Sussex families, who have campaigned for an independent review into care at the trust.

Streeting said: ‘Donna Ockenden has earned the trust of families across the country through her tireless work to uncover the truth and drive lasting change in maternity care. I know she will bring that same dedication to Sussex.

‘To the families in Sussex, your determination to seek answers not just for yourselves but for every family who comes after you, is so important. This review has my full personal commitment, and I will ensure we get the answers and deliver the change you deserve.'

Donna Ockenden said: ‘It is an honour to have been asked to chair this review and I am absolutely aware of the responsibility I have to the families and babies across Sussex.

‘My priority will be to listen carefully to harmed and bereaved families and to engage comprehensively across communities and with staff on the ground here in Sussex.

‘We will proactively reach out to ensure that the voices of seldom-heard families are heard through this review.

‘It is vital that the scope of the review now reflects the experiences of families and enables a thorough and meaningful examination of care, so that improvements can be made as the review progresses.'

Ockenden is one of the country's foremost experts on maternity safety, having led the landmark review into Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust and currently chairing reviews at both Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Speaking on Wednesday, Dr Andy Heeps, chief executive officer of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘We welcome today's announcement that a chair has been appointed to lead the independent review into our trust's maternity services. We will work openly and transparently with the Donna Ockenden review team, and with families who have used our services, because we believe external scrutiny can help drive improvement. We hope this announcement will provide some reassurance to families, and we will do everything we can to support the review and help families get the answers they seek.'