LONDON (Azat TV) – Health Secretary Wes Streeting has appointed senior midwife Donna Ockenden to chair the independent review into maternity and neonatal services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The appointment marks a significant government U-turn, following a prolonged campaign by bereaved and harmed families who insisted that Ockenden’s expertise was essential to uncover systemic failures at one of Europe’s largest teaching hospitals.
A Response to Systemic Maternity Failures
The decision to appoint Ockenden comes after months of mounting pressure and public scrutiny regarding the safety of maternity care in Leeds. In January 2025, a BBC investigation suggested that the deaths of at least 56 babies and two mothers at the trust over a five-year period could have been prevented. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) subsequently downgraded the trust’s maternity units to “inadequate” in June 2025, citing a pervasive “blame culture” that discouraged staff from reporting safety concerns.
The Path to Independent Oversight
Secretary Streeting initially announced the inquiry in October 2025, acknowledging the need to understand what had gone “catastrophically wrong” within the units. However, his initial decision to exclude Ockenden from the chair position drew sharp criticism from families and MPs, who viewed it as a barrier to transparency. Following persistent lobbying, including direct meetings between the Secretary of State and affected families, the government reversed its stance.
“Families have been very clear for a very long time that their request was for me to chair their independent maternity services at Leeds,” Ockenden stated following the announcement. She confirmed that the review will examine cases spanning from January 2011 to December 2025, with clinical case reviews scheduled to commence in August.
Scope of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust Review
The upcoming review aims to address concerns regarding the safety, quality, and equity of care provided by the trust. It will focus on stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and serious incidents, utilizing an opt-out methodology to ensure that all families impacted by potential failings are included. The process will also scrutinize the internal governance and accountability mechanisms that were in place when concerns were previously raised by staff and patients.
The appointment of Donna Ockenden signals a pivotal shift in the government’s approach to maternity oversight, moving from reactive policy adjustments to a model of accountability that centers the demands of families who have experienced preventable loss.