Independent inquiry announced by the Health Secretary into Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
4th November 2025
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has declared that an independent inquiry will investigate maternity and neonatal services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTH) following mounting concerns about serious and repeated failings.
The decision comes after families of bereaved mothers and babies pressed for a full investigation into care at the trust’s two major hospitals. In June this year both of the trusts’ maternity units were graded as “inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), where it was cited that there were shortages of midwives and doctors, unsafe storge of medicines and a culture of fear preventing staff from speaking out.
The BBC carried out an investigation in 2024 which revealed that the deaths of at least 56 babies and two mothers at LTH over the past 5 years could have been prevented. Wes Streeting emphasised that the inquiry will look beyond recent events, extending back over years of service, to give affected families “the honesty and accountability they deserve” and to stop the normalisation of deaths of women and infants in maternity services.
Bereaved families who have lost babies at the trust have welcomed the announcement. Their hope is for meaningful change to break the cycle of repeated errors and poor leadership.
The independent inquiry is likely to be similar to the recent Nottingham inquiry, and the bereaved families hope that senior midwife Donna Ockenden will lead the review, as she is currently leading the Nottingham review and has previously led the review into maternity failings at Shrewsbury and Telford.
At the trust, new chief executive Brendan Brown offered an unreserved apology to families, acknowledging that the trust had not always listened to or taken the concerns of parents sufficiently seriously. He committed the organisation to working openly, honestly and transparently with the forthcoming review.
Sir Julian Harltey who was Chief Executive of Leeds Trust for a decade has since resigned from his role at the CQC.
The details for the inquiry are yet to be finalised.
It is hoped that the outcome of the inquiry will prompt change in the trust, to include improvements in safety and reporting systems, to restore public trust in maternity services and ensure accountability.
What this means for patients
At our firm, we regularly hear from individuals and families who have been affected by birth injuries.
Whilst we recognise the challenging conditions faced by NHS staff, persistent underperformance can lead to avoidable harm, including:
• Negligent management of high-risk births
• Failure to perform a timely Caesarean Section
• Birth trauma leading to permanent injury or even death
We’re here to help
Contact us today for confidential advice if you have concerns about treatment you or a loved one received at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (or elsewhere). Our team are true specialist Medical Negligence Lawyers, dedicated to helping people in situations like this.
Article written by Medical Negligence Paralegals Eloise Locker & Abi Scott