"Bereaved families, reeling from devastating failures in maternity care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, have unequivocally declared a loss of faith in the Health Secretary’s handling of an independent inquiry, imploring the Prime Minister to intervene and appoint renowned midwife Donna Ockenden to lead the investigation."
The urgent plea from families, whose lives have been irrevocably altered by preventable deaths and severe harm within Leeds’ maternity units, underscores a deepening crisis of confidence in the government’s commitment to delivering a truly independent and effective investigation. Their call for Prime Ministerial intervention follows a public announcement by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, which families perceive as a betrayal of trust, particularly his decision to exclude Donna Ockenden, a figure synonymous with rigorous and compassionate maternity inquiries, from chairing the critical review. This escalating dispute highlights not only the profound emotional toll on those directly affected but also broader systemic concerns regarding accountability and transparency in addressing persistent failings within the National Health Service.
The controversy stems from a BBC investigation that brought to light the potential preventability of at least 56 infant deaths and two maternal fatalities at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTH) over the past five years. This alarming revelation prompted Health Secretary Wes Streeting to announce, late last year, the necessity of a comprehensive "Nottingham-style" investigation to uncover the systemic flaws that led to such catastrophic outcomes at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s Hospital. However, the initial glimmer of hope for grieving families quickly dimmed when Streeting publicly declared in a BBC Radio interview that Donna Ockenden would not be appointed to lead the Leeds inquiry, a decision that has ignited a firestorm of protest and allegations of broken promises.
Donna Ockenden is a highly respected senior midwife whose name has become synonymous with independent, thorough, and family-centred investigations into maternity care failings across the UK. Her groundbreaking work, most notably the independent review into maternity services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust (SaTH), which uncovered over 200 avoidable deaths and widespread systemic negligence, has set a benchmark for such inquiries. The "Ockenden Review" at SaTH was praised for its meticulous detail, its compassionate engagement with affected families, and its unwavering commitment to identifying root causes and recommending actionable changes. More recently, she has been at the helm of a similar review into maternity services in Nottingham, lending her expertise and proven methodology to another deeply troubled trust. For bereaved families and many parliamentarians, Ockenden represents the gold standard – a leader with unparalleled experience, a deep understanding of complex clinical failures, and, crucially, the trust of those who have suffered the most.
The families’ insistence on Ockenden’s appointment is rooted in a desire for an inquiry that is not only independent but also demonstrably capable of holding a large NHS trust accountable. They fear that an inquiry led by someone with "an untested and unrefined methodology," as stated in a letter from cross-party MPs, would fail to provide the thorough, systematic scrutiny needed to unearth the full extent of the problems at LTH. The perceived snub of Ockenden by the Health Secretary, particularly after what families claim was a personal assurance that he would consult with her and them before any public announcement, has been interpreted as a profound "betrayal of their trust." This perceived breach of faith has led families to conclude that they have "lost faith and confidence in the Secretary of State for Health’s handling of this inquiry."
In a significant show of cross-party unity, a group of MPs, including Labour’s Fabian Hamilton, Richard Burgon, and Michelle Welsh (Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Maternity), along with Conservative Sir Alec Shelbrooke and independent MP Iqbal Mohamed, have penned a strongly worded letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The letter, a copy of which is to be hand-delivered to Downing Street by the affected families, explicitly calls for Starmer’s direct intervention to appoint Donna Ockenden "with immediate effect." This extraordinary move bypasses the Health Secretary, signaling the depth of the political and emotional chasm that has opened up between the bereaved families, their parliamentary champions, and the Department of Health.
The personal testimonies of the bereaved parents paint a harrowing picture of loss and the desperate need for answers and justice. Fiona Winser-Ramm and Dan Ramm, whose daughter Aliona tragically died in January 2020 at Leeds General Infirmary, represent the profound impact of these failings. An inquest into Aliona’s death unequivocally found "a number of gross failures" that "directly contributed" to her passing. Winser-Ramm articulates the families’ collective anxiety: "Families cannot trust this inquiry to an unproven process as it is too important to fail, yet we won’t get a second chance." She further expresses frustration that while the Secretary of State "is often saying the right things to us," these assurances are "not translating into what is proposed for the inquiry by the Department of Health."
Lauren Caulfield, another bereaved Leeds parent, reinforces the call for experienced leadership, stating, "Given the size and scale of failings at Leeds, for this inquiry to be successful it needs someone who understands systematic failures, is trusted by families and staff and is capable of holding a large NHS trust to account." Her words echo the collective sentiment that the sheer complexity and gravity of the LTH scandal demand a proven leader who can navigate intricate medical systems and ensure comprehensive accountability.
The recent tragedy of Amarjit Kaur and Mandip Singh Matharoo, whose baby Asees was stillborn on January 6, 2024, adds another layer of heartbreak to the ongoing saga. For them, Streeting’s actions have "broken their trust." Kaur emphasizes the need for an "open, honest inquiry which allows learning to be implemented right away as the inquiry is happening," and reiterates that a chair "who lacks experience in this area" is unacceptable. "We need justice for Asees and all those babies harmed or not here today," she asserts, encapsulating the deep-seated yearning for truth and systemic change.
The BBC’s initial investigation, which brought these failures to national attention, highlighted a disturbing discrepancy. Despite whistleblowers repeatedly raising concerns about unsafe practices within the maternity units at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s Hospital, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent health and social care regulator, had initially rated these units as "good." It was only more recently, in June 2024, that the units were downgraded to "inadequate," a stark admission of the serious deficiencies that had persisted, potentially for years, despite internal warnings. This raises critical questions about oversight mechanisms and the effectiveness of regulatory bodies in identifying and addressing systemic issues before they lead to tragic outcomes.
In response to the mounting pressure, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care stated, "Every family who has lost a baby deserves answers, and we are determined to ensure they get them." They affirmed that "No-one should experience substandard maternity care, and this government will not rest until women, babies and families get the care they need, in Leeds and beyond." The department outlined ongoing efforts to improve maternity services nationwide, including an investment of over £130 million to enhance safety, the rollout of programmes aimed at reducing avoidable brain injuries, and the piloting of Martha’s Rule in maternity services. Furthermore, they confirmed that they are "actively working with families in Leeds to appoint a chair and agree terms of reference for this vital review."
However, for the bereaved families and their parliamentary allies, these assurances fall short. The immediate priority is not merely an inquiry, but the right inquiry, led by the right person. Their unwavering demand for Donna Ockenden reflects a broader dissatisfaction with what they perceive as a pattern of governmental reluctance to fully empower independent scrutiny in the face of profound NHS failings. The outcome of this standoff will not only determine the future of maternity care in Leeds but will also send a powerful message about the government’s commitment to accountability and justice for families who have endured unimaginable loss. The ball is now firmly in the Prime Minister’s court, with the hopes and trust of grieving families resting on his decision.