Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has announced an independent inquiry into maternity services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. This follows years of systemic failings that have caused devastating harm to mothers and babies.
The inquiry will examine ongoing failures within maternity care NHS provisions at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s University Hospital, after a damning investigation revealed the deaths of 56 babies and two mothers over five years.
Why Has an Inquiry Been Launched into Maternity Services in Leeds?
The decision follows mounting pressure from bereaved families and alarming findings from the Maternity Safety Support Programme (MSSP). More than 70 families have now come forward with harrowing accounts of substandard maternity care Leeds, with some incidents dating back over 15 years.
The catalyst for action came after the BBC investigation brought national attention to the crisis in maternity services Leeds. Mr. Streeting met affected families face-to-face before confirming the full independent inquiry would proceed.
Families at the Heart of the Leeds Maternity Care Campaign
Among those leading calls for accountability are Fiona Winser-Ramm and Dan Ramm, whose daughter Aliona died at Leeds General Infirmary in January 2020. An inquest concluded that “a number of gross failures” directly contributed to her death.
Amarjit Kaur and Mandip Singh Matharoo experienced their own devastating loss when their daughter Asees was stillborn at the same hospital in January 2024. This came just four years after Aliona’s death, suggesting systemic issues remained unaddressed.
These families, along with dozens of others, wrote directly to Health Secretary, Mr Streeting, demanding an independent inquiry into the failures within maternity care NHS services at Leeds.
CQC Downgrades Leeds Maternity Units to "Inadequate"
Before the inquiry announcement, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had already downgraded both Leeds maternity units to “inadequate” following unannounced inspections in June 2024.
Inspectors found that women and babies were at risk of avoidable harm. They also uncovered a pervasive “blame culture“ that prevented staff from raising safety concerns, and systemic failures in NHS maternity care protocols.
Brendan Brown, Chief Executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, has issued an apology to affected families and expressed hope the inquiry will provide answers and drive meaningful improvements.
What Does This Mean for Maternity Services in Leeds Going Forward?
The independent inquiry represents a critical opportunity to:
- Uncover the root causes of failures in maternity services Leeds.
- Hold individuals and systems accountable.
- Implement lasting reforms to maternity care NHS standards.
- Provide bereaved families with the answers they deserve.
Support for Families Affected by Birth Injuries in Leeds
If your family has been affected by the maternity care failings at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we understand how devastating this time is.
When birth injuries occur due to substandard care, families face challenges that extend far beyond the immediate trauma. The physical, emotional, and financial impact can reshape entire lives; affecting not just mothers and babies, but partners, siblings, and extended family members for years to come.
At CL Medilaw, we work with families across Leeds who have experienced similar failures in maternity services. Our role goes beyond pursuing compensation. We help families access specialist medical care, therapies, equipment, and adapted housing, all of which can make a genuine difference to quality of life. We also work to secure answers about what happened and why.
If you’d like to discuss your experience in confidence, our birth injury team is here to listen. We offer free, no-obligation consultations where we can explain your options and what support might be available to you.
Contact us today to talk about how we may be able to support you.
