Health Secretary Reverses Decision on Leeds Maternity Inquiry Chair
The health secretary, Wes Streeting, has reversed his initial decision regarding the leadership of an independent inquiry into repeated maternity failures at Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTH) NHS Trust.
Following sustained campaigning by bereaved and harmed families, Streeting has appointed Donna Ockenden, a senior midwife, to chair the review of maternity and neonatal services at the trust.
Ockenden is currently leading the largest maternity review in the UK, examining approximately 2,500 cases of harm to mothers and babies at Nottingham. This inquiry is regarded as a significant investigation into maternity care.
In January 2025, a BBC investigation revealed that at least 56 babies and two mothers had died at the Leeds trust over the previous five years, with indications that many of these deaths might have been preventable.
Inquiry Announcement and Initial Chair Appointment Controversy
Streeting initially announced the inquiry into the West Yorkshire trust in October 2025, stating the need to understand what had "gone so catastrophically wrong" at the maternity units of Leeds General Infirmary and St James's University Hospital.
However, days later during a BBC radio interview, Streeting stated that Donna Ockenden would not chair the Leeds review, a decision that was met with criticism from families and Members of Parliament.
In February, families and MPs called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to intervene and appoint Ockenden immediately to lead the inquiry.
Streeting also met with some of the affected families, who expressed a loss of confidence in his handling of the situation.
Reactions from Families and Health Secretary
Amarjit Kaur Matharoo, whose daughter Asees was stillborn in January 2024, expressed relief at the appointment.
"It had been a really exhausting, long road to get to a point where we've got a chair that we all agree upon, is going to be completely independent," she said.
Streeting commented on the decision, stating:
"We have reached the right decision. I am sorry to families in Leeds for what they've been through and the fact that so often they've had to really fight to get to this point."
Lauren Caulfield, who lost her daughter in March 2022, reflected on the significance of the announcement.
"The announcement is coming 10 days before Grace's 4th birthday, and I feel this is the best gift I could give her, ensuring her little life is actually going to make a change," she said.
Donna Ockenden's Response
Donna Ockenden commended the health secretary for the decision, emphasizing the importance of family perspectives.
"I commend the secretary of state for making the right decision from the families' perspective. Families have been very clear for a very long time that their request was for me to chair their independent maternity services at Leeds.
They have met with the secretary of state on a number of occasions, and in the last meeting that I believe went on for several hours... he listened very carefully and came back to them and said 'actually this is the right decision'.
So I am pleased with that but I do recognise, as we all will, that it has taken a very long time to get to here today," she said.
Scope and Operation of the Review
The full terms of reference for the review are yet to be finalized. However, the government expects the inquiry to include case reviews of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, serious injuries, hypoxic injuries, and maternal deaths occurring between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2025.
The review will operate on an opt-out basis, meaning cases that meet the criteria will be automatically included unless families choose to exclude them. Clinical case reviews are anticipated to commence in August.
Calls for Engagement from Affected Families
Fiona Winser-Ramm, whose daughter Aliona Grace died in 2020, urged all affected families to participate in the review.
"We are calling on all those who have been harmed, or whose babies have been harmed, to reach out and engage with the review.
Whether it was 11 years ago or 11 months ago, your experience matters. Your baby's life and wellbeing matters, as does yours."
Background: Previous Investigations and Trust Ratings
The BBC's initial investigation included testimonies from whistleblowers who alleged that the maternity units were unsafe despite being rated "good" by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) at that time.
In June 2025, following unannounced inspections, the CQC downgraded the maternity units to "inadequate" due to concerns that women and babies were at risk of avoidable harm.
Inspectors also identified a "blame culture" within the trust, which discouraged staff from raising concerns and reporting incidents.
Trust Response and Commitment to Improvement
Brendan Brown, Chief Executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, issued an apology to families affected by the deaths and injuries and welcomed the appointment of a chair for the inquiry.
"We are absolutely committed to working openly, honestly and transparently with Donna Ockenden and the review team, and with families who have used our services," Brown said.
"I would also like to reassure families in Leeds who will be using our services currently, that significant improvements are already under way in our maternity and neonatal services, following reviews by the Care Quality Commission and NHS England," he added.
Health Secretary's Statement on Ockenden's Appointment
In a statement, Wes Streeting described Donna Ockenden as an "outstanding advocate for families whose voices haven't always been heard" and expressed confidence that her leadership would bring about the lasting change needed in Leeds.
Contact Information
For further information about this story, Divya Talwar can be contacted securely via the encrypted messaging app Signal at +44 7961 390 325, by email at divya.talwar@bbc.co.uk, or through her Instagram account.
