Irwin Mitchell Supporting Families Affected

Following a significant campaign by bereaved and harmed families, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, has announced that maternity services delivered by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will be subject to an independent investigation.

Maternity services at the Trust have come under intense scrutiny since a support group called the Leeds Maternity Group was started two years ago. There is now an online community of over 150 bereaved and harmed families, with new families asking to join their Facebook page on an almost daily basis.

In June, the CQC downgraded the Trust to “inadequate”, citing serious risks to women and babies and a deep-rooted “blame culture” that left staff afraid to speak up. Whistleblowers have warned units remain unsafe, and BBC data revealed that at least 56 baby deaths between January 2019 to July 2024 might have been preventable with better care. 

Fiona Wisner-Ramm and Daniel Ramm who have been lead voices in the campaign for an independent investigation and bereaved parents to Aliona Winser-Ramm said: “We’re hugely relieved and deeply grateful to Wes Streeting for listening to us and agreeing to hold an independent inquiry. This means that Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will now be properly investigated, allowing for meaningful changes to its culture and practices. We hope that this inquiry will finally break the cycle of repeated errors and inadequate leadership, helping to prevent further deaths and injuries to mothers and babies.”

Katie Warner, specialist medical negligence solicitor at Irwin Mitchell representing many of the families said: “We see first-hand the horrific impact that issues with maternity care has on families. It’s crucial that maternity care is improved, not just in Leeds but across the UK, and that the improvement starts as soon as possible.  There are so many recommendations that exist already from past reviews, reports and investigations that are yet to be implemented.  It is essential that there is action on the ground in Leeds to implement existing recommendations and reduce avoidable harm in real time, whilst the inquiry hears the voices of all involved in maternity care, including patients and staff members.”

Leeds Maternity Inquiry

Until further notice, Leeds will remain part of the rapid national review into maternity and neonatal services being led by Baroness Amos.

Who will lead the Leeds maternity inquiry, and the Terms of Reference for it, are yet to be decided but the families have asked for it to be chaired by midwife, Donna Ockenden.

Donna is currently leading the independent review of maternity services at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Donna is independent of systemic bias, trusted by families, and has a track record of performing good inquiries with thorough outcomes. It is understood that Donna Ockenden is being consulted on the role by the Health Secretary.

In the recent meeting with the Leeds families, Wes Streeting confirmed that the Terms of References used for the Nottingham review will be the starting point for the Leeds inquiry. Families hope that there will be early police involvement to ensure accountability as well as a ‘Staff Voices’ initiative that was implemented in Nottingham.

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in maternity claims.