Midwifery expert to chair independent inquiry into maternity failures

"Senior midwife and investigator Donna Ockenden has been appointed to lead the independent inquiry into maternity services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTH) NHS Trust, a move welcomed by families who have long campaigned for answers regarding the care their babies received. Ms Ockenden, who is also overseeing a similar investigation into hundreds of deaths and injuries in Nottingham, emphasised that the Leeds inquiry must be "firmly focused" on the families who have "waited far too long for answers"."

"The investigation was formally commissioned by Health Secretary Wes Streeting in October, who stated he was "shocked" by "repeated maternity failures" and the "unacceptable response of the trust". This decision followed a BBC investigation in early 2025, which highlighted that the deaths of at least 56 babies and two mothers over the preceding five years may have been preventable."

Donna Ockenden, a senior midwife and investigator, has been appointed to lead an independent inquiry into maternity services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. This appointment follows a BBC investigation revealing that at least 56 babies and two mothers may have died preventably over five years. Health Secretary Wes Streeting formally commissioned the investigation in October, expressing shock at repeated maternity failures and the trust's inadequate response. Ockenden, who is simultaneously overseeing a similar investigation in Nottingham, emphasized the inquiry must remain firmly focused on families who have waited extensively for answers. The appointment fulfills persistent demands from grieving families and represents a significant step toward accountability in NHS maternity services.

Read at www.independent.co.uk