The health and social care secretary has called for an investigation after “repeated failures” at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. 

The health and social care secretary Wes Streeting has announced an independent inquiry into “repeated failures” of maternity services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. 

The chair of the Leeds maternity inquiry, or its scope, criteria and terms of reference, have not yet been announced. 

This is the latest in a series of catastrophic failures in maternity care in British hospitals to have been highlighted, and the investigation will run in parallel to the rapid, independent, national investigation into maternity and neonatal services announced in June by Streeting into 14 hospital trusts – including Leeds – and headed by Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos. 

At the beginning of September, a report from the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) reiterated that challenges in maternity and neonatal safety are the result of systemic issues at a national level, rather than isolated issues within local areas.

As Charlie Massey, chief executive of the GMC, pointed out in a speech in mid-September: “That doctors are making life or death decisions in environments where they feel fearful to speak up is profoundly concerning. Those are the very factors that lead to cover-up over candour and obfuscation over honesty. And it is in those cultures that the greatest patient harm occurs.”

Leaders don’t listen 

But the problems at Leeds are longstanding. 

As Healthcare Today reported in January, there were at least 56 cases of stillbirths or neonatal deaths, as well as two maternity deaths, between January 2019 and July 2024. At the time, families were calling for an independent review into Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, specifically for an independent, judge-led enquiry to help improve maternity safety.

In June, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found breaches of regulations in maternity services related to learning following incidents, risk management, safe environment, infection prevention and control, medicines management and management processes.

Breaches were also found in neonatal services relating to risk management, safe environment, infection prevention and control, medicines management and staffing.

This triggered another investigation published at the beginning of October, which rated leadership as “requires improvement”.

Maternity services at both hospitals declined from “good” to “inadequate” overall, and neonatal services at both hospitals were rated as “requires improvement” overall.

“Leaders didn’t always listen to concerns, and some staff had negative experiences when they voiced issues, which impacted their wellbeing and the quality of people’s care,” said Rob Assall, CQC director of operations in the north.

Investigation welcomed

The news of the independent investigation was welcomed by Leeds Maternity Group, a support group of more than 150 bereaved and harmed families, which has been calling for an independent investigation. 

“We’re hugely relieved and deeply grateful to Wes Streeting for listening to us and agreeing to hold an independent inquiry,” said Fiona Wisner-Ramm and Daniel Ramm, bereaved parents of Aliona Winser-Ramm, who have been the lead voices in the campaign. 

“This means that Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will now be properly investigated, allowing for meaningful changes to its culture and practices. We hope that this inquiry will finally break the cycle of repeated errors and inadequate leadership, helping to prevent further deaths and injuries to mothers and babies,” they continued. 

“It’s crucial that maternity care is improved, not just in Leeds but across the UK, and that the improvement starts as soon as possible,” said Katie Warner, associate solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, who is representing many of the families. 

Brendan Brown, chief executive of the Trust, offered an “unreserved apology” to families who had been affected. 

“We know that in the past we have not listened to families well enough, or responded to their concerns compassionately, and we are determined to do better.  We want to work with the families who have used our services to understand their experiences so that we can make real and lasting improvements,” he said.