UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has cancelled a maternity review originally commissioned by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, replacing it with a new independent investigation led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden. The decision follows mounting concerns about the trust’s perinatal mortality rate and repeated safety failures in maternity and neonatal services.

The move marks a significant intervention by the Department of Health and Social Care in the governance of NHS maternity services. Officials said the trust-commissioned review would be replaced by a more independent process intended to restore confidence among families affected by serious incidents. Streeting said the new approach aims to ensure that families who have lost babies or experienced harm receive clear answers and meaningful accountability from the health system.

Concerns over maternity safety in Leeds

The controversy centres on maternity and neonatal services at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s University Hospital, which are both run by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Regulators and investigators have raised significant concerns about the safety and quality of care at these units in recent years. In June 2025, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) downgraded maternity services at the trust to “inadequate”, citing serious risks to women and babies as well as staff shortages and cultural problems that discouraged staff from raising concerns.

Investigations have also revealed a troubling pattern of poor outcomes. According to previous inquiries and media investigations, at least 56 baby deaths and two maternal deaths between 2019 and 2024 may have been preventable, with reviews identifying shortcomings in clinical care. The trust has apologised to affected families and pledged to cooperate fully with investigations into maternity services.

Why the original review was cancelled

The initial review into the trust’s perinatal mortality rate had been commissioned internally by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. However, campaigners and bereaved families expressed concern that a trust-led investigation might lack sufficient independence. Following discussions with families and campaign groups, Streeting decided to cancel the internal review and establish a new government-led independent inquiry instead.

The decision reflects growing pressure on NHS leaders to ensure that investigations into patient safety failures are perceived as impartial and transparent. Families affected by maternity tragedies in Leeds had previously argued that only a fully independent review could rebuild trust.

Donna Ockenden appointed to lead inquiry

To lead the new investigation, the government has appointed Donna Ockenden, a widely respected midwife and patient safety advocate. Ockenden previously led the high-profile inquiry into maternity failings at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and is currently overseeing the large-scale investigation into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Her appointment was welcomed by many families campaigning for justice in Leeds, who believe her experience investigating systemic maternity failures will help ensure a thorough review.

The independent inquiry will examine maternity and neonatal services across the trust, including individual clinical cases and broader systemic issues affecting patient safety. Officials say the process will involve close engagement with families to develop the inquiry’s terms of reference, with detailed clinical case reviews expected to begin later in 2026.

Part of wider scrutiny of NHS maternity care

The Leeds investigation comes amid broader national scrutiny of maternity services across England. A government-commissioned National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, led by Baroness Amos, has already highlighted widespread issues including staff shortages, racism, poor communication with families and a reluctance within some organisations to acknowledge mistakes.

These findings have reinforced calls for stronger oversight and cultural reform within maternity services, particularly following a series of high-profile safety scandals at hospitals in Nottingham, East Kent and Shrewsbury. Health policy experts say the growing number of maternity inquiries highlights systemic challenges facing the NHS, including workforce shortages, ageing hospital infrastructure and pressures on frontline staff.

Implications for NHS governance and digital oversight

The cancellation of the trust-commissioned review also raises broader questions about how NHS organisations investigate patient safety incidents and monitor clinical outcomes. Digital health specialists argue that advanced clinical data systems, electronic patient records and maternity safety dashboards could help identify warning signs earlier by tracking outcomes such as stillbirth rates, neonatal mortality and maternal complications across hospitals. Improved analytics may enable regulators and trust leaders to detect patterns of concern more quickly, reducing the risk that serious failures remain hidden for years.

Looking ahead

The independent inquiry led by Donna Ockenden is expected to take several years to complete, reflecting the complexity of reviewing historical clinical cases and systemic organisational issues. For families affected by maternity failures in Leeds, the government’s intervention represents a crucial step toward uncovering the truth and ensuring accountability. For the NHS more broadly, the investigation may become another pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to reform maternity services and rebuild public confidence in patient safety across the health system.

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