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In a pivotal development for maternity care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has appointed Donna Ockenden to lead an independent inquiry into significant repeated failures within the maternity services. This decision comes on the heels of persistent advocacy from bereaved families and community stakeholders, who have long called for accountability and change following tragic incidents that may have resulted in preventable deaths of mothers and infants.
Ockenden Takes the Helm
Donna Ockenden, a respected senior midwife currently overseeing the largest maternity review in the UK at Nottingham, will now direct the examination of services at Leeds. This review is particularly critical, given that a BBC investigation from January 2025 highlighted the sorrowful reality that at least 56 babies and two mothers may have lost their lives due to systemic failures at the trust over a five-year span.
Initially, Streeting had announced the inquiry in October 2025, expressing the need to uncover the underlying issues that led to what he termed “catastrophic” failures at the Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s University Hospital. However, just days after that announcement, he indicated that Ockenden would not be appointed as chair, a decision that faced immediate backlash from affected families and advocacy groups.
Families’ Voices Resonate
The pressure to reverse this decision culminated in direct appeals to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, as families recounted their harrowing experiences. Streeting’s engagement with these families has been notably extensive, with multiple meetings aimed at restoring trust. Amarjit Kaur Matharoo, whose daughter Asees was stillborn in January 2024, expressed relief at Ockenden’s appointment, stating, “It had been a really exhausting, long road to get to a point where we’ve got a chair that we all agree upon.”
Lauren Caulfield, who suffered the stillbirth of her daughter in March 2022, echoed this sentiment, noting that the timing of the announcement was particularly poignant as it coincided with what would have been her daughter Grace’s fourth birthday. “This is the best gift I could give her, ensuring her little life is actually going to make a change,” she remarked.
Ockenden’s Commitment to Families
In her initial comments following the announcement, Ockenden recognised the lengthy journey that families have endured to reach this point. She indicated her commitment to ensuring that the review would provide “trusted answers” to families who have waited far too long for clarity. Ockenden will lead a multi-professional team comprising specialists from various fields, reflecting a comprehensive approach to reviewing cases of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and maternal fatalities.
The review, which will operate on an opt-out basis, is expected to begin examining cases from January 2011 to December 2025. Ockenden emphasised the dual objectives of the inquiry: to provide answers to families and to enhance the overall safety and quality of maternity services moving forward.
Systemic Issues Highlighted
The urgency for this inquiry has been underscored by findings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which downgraded the maternity units at Leeds from “good” to “inadequate” in June 2025. This reassessment followed unannounced inspections that revealed alarming safety concerns, including a pervasive “blame culture” that discouraged staff from raising issues or reporting incidents.
Brendan Brown, Chief Executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, issued an apology to families affected by these failures and expressed the trust’s commitment to transparency and constructive engagement with Ockenden’s review team. He reassured current service users that substantial improvements are already being implemented in response to previous reviews.
Why it Matters
This inquiry represents not only a vital step towards accountability for the families affected by these tragic events but also a broader reflection of ongoing issues within the NHS maternity services. By appointing an independent and experienced chair, the government signals a willingness to confront these systemic challenges head-on. The impact of this review could lead to fundamental changes in maternal care practices, potentially saving lives and restoring trust in a system that has let down too many families. As the inquiry unfolds, it will be essential for all stakeholders to engage, ensuring that voices of those affected are at the forefront of driving necessary reforms.
