In recent months, families whose babies died under the care of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have been left waiting for progress on a promised independent inquiry.
BBC News reports that despite assurances from Health Secretary Wes Streeting that he takes their concerns “extremely seriously”, the lack of a confirmed chair for the investigation has severely shaken confidence.
For many families already living with unimaginable grief, these delays feel like yet another trauma.
A crisis that should never have happened
The inquiry was first announced in October after a BBC investigation reported that at least 56 baby deaths over five years may have been preventable.
The heartbreaking experiences of bereaved families in Leeds have once again highlighted a national crisis in maternity safety and the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and real change.
These aren’t numbers. These are much‑loved children whose parents will carry the pain of their loss for a lifetime.
The Trust has stated that it is “taking significant steps to address improvements,” but for families whose babies died following acknowledged “gross failures,” reassurance without action rings hollow.
When families bravely come forward about avoidable harm, they should not have to fight to be heard.
Families left in limbo
No chair has yet been appointed to lead the inquiry, despite the urgency of the issues and the government’s public commitment to act.
Understandably, families’ trust has been damaged as a result of the lack of progress.
Five MPs have even written directly to Downing Street stating that families have “lost faith and confidence” in how the inquiry has been handled so far.
Many have urged the appointment of Donna Ockenden, the senior midwife who led the landmark Shrewsbury maternity inquiry and is currently investigating similar failings in Nottingham. She has publicly stated that she is “ready to begin immediately if asked.”
Yet still, there has been no appointment of a lead for the inquiry.
For parents who have already spent years seeking answers, these delays feel deeply distressing and lead to yet more worry and concern, which ought to be avoided.
“You deserve not just answers, but a process you can trust.”
Wes Streeting is meeting some of the bereaved families and has promised a process that is “thorough, independent, and puts families at its heart.” His words acknowledge the profound courage these parents have shown and the unimaginable loss they carry.
But as one bereaved mother put it:
“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.”
For many, that disconnect is at the centre of their concern.
A national picture that cannot be ignored
The situation in Leeds is not isolated.
Across the country, maternity services are under extreme pressure, and multiple major inquiries, Shrewsbury, East Kent, Nottingham, and now Leeds, reveal recurring, systemic failings:
- Staffing shortages
- Missed warning signs during labour
- Failures to listen to parents
- Cultures that discourage raising concerns
- Repeated patterns of avoidable harm
Families in Leeds deserve the same careful, expert scrutiny that other regions have received. They deserve an inquiry leadership team with proven experience, compassion, and credibility.
Most of all, they deserve timely action — not further delay.
Why this matters for our clients and for all parents
As clinical negligence solicitors representing families affected by maternity failings, we see first‑hand the impact on parents who have lost a child or whose baby has suffered life‑changing harm.
The grief is overwhelming.
The questions are endless.
And too often, the truth is uncovered only because families refuse to give up.
An inquiry that is slow to begin, uncertain in design, or lacking the confidence of those it intends to help risks retraumatising the very people it aims to support.
Families need:
- A transparent process
- Honesty and accountability
- Clear leadership
- A timeframe they can rely on
- A methodology that has been proven to deliver answers
- A voice at every stage
Anything less risks compounding the harm already suffered.
We stand with the families seeking answers
If you or your family have been affected by maternity failures in Leeds or elsewhere, you are not alone.
Our team works with families every day who are navigating the emotional and legal complexities of losing a baby or dealing with preventable harm during childbirth. We understand how daunting this process can feel, especially when trust in the healthcare system has been shaken.
If you would like confidential advice, please get in touch.
No parent should ever have to fight for the truth about what happened to their baby.
And no family should ever feel left behind.
We are here to support you every step of the way.
How can we help?
Danielle Young is a Partner in our Medical Negligence team, which has been ranked in tier one by the independently researched publication, The Legal 500. She specialises in pregnancy and birth injury claims (including cerebral palsy), brain injury claims, fatal claims, surgical error claims, and cauda equina injury claims.
If you have any questions in relation to the subjects discussed in this article, then please get in touch with Danielle or another member of the team in Derby, Leicester, or Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form.
Contact usIf this article relates to a specific case/cases, please note that the facts of this case/cases are correct at the time of writing.