Full Breakdown
Independent Inquiry into Maternity Failures at Leeds Teaching Hospitals
3/10/2026, 9:15:53 PM
Appointment of Donna Ockenden
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has appointed Donna Ockenden to lead an independent inquiry into maternity services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTH) NHS Trust, following extensive advocacy from bereaved families. This decision comes after a BBC investigation revealed that at least 56 babies and two mothers may have died due to preventable failures in care over the past five years. Initially, Streeting announced the inquiry in October 2025 but later indicated that Ockenden would not chair the review. However, after persistent calls from families and MPs, he reversed this decision, emphasizing the need for an independent and trusted figure to lead the investigation.
Background and Context
The inquiry will examine maternity and neonatal services at LTH, particularly focusing on events from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2025. The review will operate on an opt-out basis, automatically including cases unless families choose otherwise. Ockenden, who previously led significant investigations into maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford and is currently overseeing a similar review in Nottingham, stated that the inquiry must remain focused on the families who have waited too long for answers.
Family Advocacy and Reactions
Families affected by the maternity failures have expressed relief and gratitude over Ockenden's appointment. Amarjit Kaur Matharoo, whose daughter was stillborn, noted that the decision marked a significant step towards rebuilding trust in the health secretary. Fiona Winser-Ramm, another bereaved parent, emphasized the importance of listening to families and ensuring that their experiences are central to the review. The families have been vocal about their expectations for accountability and meaningful change in maternity care.
Official Statements & Responses
Wes Streeting acknowledged the emotional toll on families and expressed his commitment to ensuring that the review delivers the necessary changes. He stated, “This review must deliver for you and for the sake of all families who rightly expect to receive safe and high-quality maternity care in the NHS.” Ockenden echoed this sentiment, emphasizing her responsibility to listen to families and staff, understand what went wrong, and ensure timely changes are made.
Criticism & Opposition
Despite the positive reception of Ockenden's appointment, concerns remain regarding the speed and effectiveness of the review. Some families have expressed skepticism about whether the inquiry will deliver timely answers and restore trust in the system. There are also calls for the review to closely examine the role of regulators, including the Care Quality Commission, which downgraded the maternity units at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s University Hospital to "inadequate" in June 2025.
What's Next
The full terms of reference for the inquiry are still being finalized, with expectations that case reviews will begin in August 2025. Families have been urged to engage with the review process, as their experiences will be crucial in shaping the outcomes. Ockenden's leadership is seen as a pivotal moment in addressing the systemic issues within Leeds' maternity services, with the potential for significant reforms based on the findings of the inquiry.
Verbatim Quotes
- “ Ockenden said: “It is an honour to have been asked to chair this review, and I feel a profound sense of responsibility to the parents, babies and healthcare professionals it concerns to ensure that we get this right.” — Donna Ockenden, Chair of the Inquiry
- “This review must deliver for you and for the sake of all families who rightly expect to receive safe and high-quality maternity care in the NHS.” — Wes Streeting, Health Secretary
- “We are grateful that Wes Streeting has listened carefully to all of the evidence we put to him about our concerns and why Donna should be appointed as chair.” — Amarjit Kaur Matharoo, Bereaved Parent
- “Families have been very clear for a very long time that their request was for me to chair their independent maternity services at Leeds.” — Donna Ockenden, Chair of the Inquiry
