Bereaved families have ‘lost trust’ over Leeds maternity inquiry, MPs say

Bereaved families who suffered devastating losses due to maternity failures at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTH) have expressed a profound loss of trust in the Health Secretary’s ability to oversee an independent inquiry, a sentiment echoed by Members of Parliament who are now calling for the Prime Minister’s intervention. The gravity of the situation has intensified as MPs have formally written to Sir Keir Starmer, urging him to appoint Donna Ockenden, a highly respected senior midwife with a proven track record in leading significant maternity reviews, to chair the investigation into the "repeated failures" that have led to the deaths of at least 56 babies and two mothers over the past five years, many of which may have been preventable.

This call for intervention comes in the wake of a BBC investigation that brought to light the scale of these preventable tragedies. Health Secretary Wes Streeting had initially announced a comprehensive inquiry in October 2025, promising a "Nottingham-style" investigation to thoroughly examine what had "gone so catastrophically wrong" at Leeds’ two maternity units. However, the subsequent public announcement that Ockenden would not be chairing the Leeds inquiry, made by Streeting in a BBC Radio interview, has been perceived by many of the affected families as a significant breach of trust and a betrayal of their hopes for a truly independent and thorough investigation.

The letter to the Prime Minister, seen by the BBC, bears the signatures of five MPs: Fabian Hamilton, Richard Burgon, and Michelle Welsh – who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for maternity – alongside Conservative MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke and independent MP Iqbal Mohamed. The MPs explicitly state that the bereaved and harmed families in Leeds feel the public announcement was "nothing less than a complete betrayal of their trust." This sentiment stems from their understanding that Streeting had previously assured them he would consult with Ockenden and the families themselves before any public statements were made regarding the inquiry’s leadership. The MPs further argue that appointing a chair with an "untested and unrefined methodology" would be "unacceptable," emphasizing the critical need for an experienced and trusted figure to lead such a sensitive and vital investigation. They are imploring Sir Keir Starmer to "intervene and appoint Donna Ockenden to head the Leeds Maternity Inquiry, with immediate effect," underscoring the sentiment that "Leeds families have lost faith and confidence in the Secretary of State for Health’s handling of this inquiry." A copy of this influential letter is slated to be hand-delivered to Downing Street by some of the affected families later today.

The deeply personal impact of these failures is powerfully articulated by the bereaved parents themselves. Fiona Winser-Ramm and Dan Ramm, whose daughter Aliona tragically died in January 2020 at Leeds General Infirmary, a death an inquest later found was "directly contributed" to by "a number of gross failures," shared their profound concerns. Winser-Ramm stated, "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 expressed her disappointment, noting, "When we’ve met with the secretary of state, he is often saying the right things to us, but it isn’t translating into what is proposed for the inquiry by the Department of Health."

Lauren Caulfield, another bereaved Leeds parent, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the crucial need for a leader with specific expertise. "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," she explained. The pain and injustice felt by Amarjit Kaur and Mandip Singh Matharoo, whose baby Asees was stillborn on January 6, 2024, is palpable. They believe Streeting has "broken their trust" and stress the urgent need for transparency and immediate learning. Kaur stated, "There needs to be an open, honest inquiry which allows learning to be implemented right away as the inquiry is happening. We can’t have a chair who lacks experience in this area. We need justice for Asees and all those babies harmed or not here today."

The BBC’s initial investigation had uncovered disturbing testimony from whistleblowers who alleged that the maternity units at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s Hospital were operating unsafely, despite holding a "good" rating from the Care Quality Commission watchdog at the time. This rating was later downgraded to "inadequate" in June 2025, a stark reflection of the systemic issues at play. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTH) has previously acknowledged these concerns, stating that it is "taking significant steps to address improvements."

In response to the escalating concerns, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson stated, "Every family who has lost a baby deserves answers, and we are determined to ensure they get them. 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 spokesperson further highlighted the government’s commitment to improving maternity services nationwide, detailing investments of "over £130m to make units safer, rolling out programmes to reduce avoidable brain injury and piloting Martha’s Rule in maternity services."

Despite these assurances, the families and their parliamentary allies remain convinced that the current approach to appointing an inquiry chair is insufficient and potentially damaging to the pursuit of justice and accountability. The demand for Donna Ockenden’s leadership is rooted in her successful oversight of the Nottingham maternity review, which has provided a model for thorough, empathetic, and impactful investigations into systemic failures within the NHS. The families’ plea to the Prime Minister signifies a critical juncture, where their faith in the established processes has waned, and they are seeking a definitive intervention to ensure that the truth is uncovered and that such tragedies are prevented from ever happening again. The appointment of an inquiry chair is not merely a procedural step; for these families, it is the cornerstone of their hope for closure, accountability, and meaningful change.

The image accompanying the report features bereaved mothers Amarjit Kaur, Lauren Caulfield, and Fiona Winser-Ramm, standing together, their expressions conveying a shared sense of grief and determination. Another image shows Donna Ockenden, the respected senior midwife whose appointment is now so crucial to the families’ trust, looking directly at the camera. A third image, a family handout, depicts parents cradling a baby, a poignant reminder of the precious lives lost. These visual elements underscore the human cost of the systemic failures and the urgent need for an inquiry that can provide the answers and justice these families so desperately deserve. The ongoing situation at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of robust, transparent, and trusted oversight in healthcare, particularly in sensitive areas like maternity care, where the stakes are immeasurably high. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the Prime Minister will heed the calls of the MPs and the bereaved families, and appoint Donna Ockenden to lead the Leeds maternity inquiry, thereby restoring some semblance of trust in the process.