Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced that Donna Ockenden will lead an independent inquiry into maternity services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTH) NHS Trust.
This decision follows a campaign by bereaved and harmed families, who had urged the government to appoint Ockenden as the chair of the review. The inquiry will examine cases of harm to mothers and babies at the trust, including the deaths of at least 56 babies and two mothers over the past five years.
According to the BBC, which initially reported on the maternity failures, Ockenden is a senior midwife currently leading a similar review in Nottingham, examining around 2,500 cases of harm to mothers and babies.
Background to the Inquiry
In January 2025, a BBC investigation revealed that the deaths of at least 56 babies and two mothers at the Leeds trust may have been prevented. Streeting announced the inquiry in October 2025, stating that it was necessary to understand what had gone wrong at the maternity units.
Initially, Streeting had announced that Ockenden would not be the chair of the review. However, after meeting with affected families, who expressed their desire for Ockenden to lead the inquiry, Streeting reversed his decision.
Response from Families and Officials
Amarjit Kaur Matharoo, whose daughter Asees was stillborn in January 2024, said families are "relieved" by the appointment of Ockenden. Lauren Caulfield, whose daughter was stillborn in March 2022, stated that they have "fought" for this review.
Streeting apologized to the families for what they have been through and acknowledged that they have had to "really fight" to get to this point. Ockenden commended the secretary of state for making the right decision and recognized that it has taken a long time to get to this point.
Scope of the Review
The review will involve case reviews of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and serious injuries between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2025. The review will operate on an opt-out basis, with cases automatically included unless families choose otherwise. Clinical case reviews are expected to begin in August.
Fiona Winser-Ramm, whose daughter Aliona Grace died in 2020, urged all those who have been harmed or whose babies have been harmed to engage with the review. Brendan Brown, Chief Executive of LTH NHS Trust, apologized to families and welcomed the announcement of Ockenden's appointment.
