BBC Told That The Deaths Of 56 Babies At Leeds Hospital May Have Been Preventable

The BBC has reported this week that the deaths of 56 babies, and two mothers, at Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTH) NHS Trust over the past five years may have been prevented.

Whistleblowers tell BBC maternity units are unsafe

Two whistleblowers have told the BBC they believe the units are unsafe.

On review of separate data, the BBC reports that Leeds has the highest neonatal mortality rate in the UK.

One whistleblower worked at the Trust in 2023 and described the care as “appalling”, highlighting a failure to listen to patients. She said, “That’s when disasters happen, and a lot of them can be avoided.”

This comes as families described a “tick box” and “wait and see” culture at the Trust, plus a lack of compassionate care.

Over 50 cases of potentially preventable deaths

Following a Freedom of Information request, the BBC obtained data from LTH showing potentially preventable baby deaths.

The data showed at least 56 cases from January 2019 to July 2024, made up of 27 stillbirths and 29 neonatal deaths.

In each case, the BBC found that a trust review group had identified issues with care that were considered may have made a difference to the outcome.

LTH also recorded two possibly preventable maternal deaths in the same period of time.

Highest neonatal mortality rate

The BBC reports that LTH had the highest neonatal mortality rate in the UK at 4.46 per 1,000 live births in 2022. This is according to the latest report by MBRRACE-UK, which reviews stillbirths and neonatal deaths.

On analysis of the data, the BBC says that this data shows an increase from 3.30 per 1,000 live births in 2017.

The figure for LTH is 70% higher than the average rate for comparable NHS Trusts.

A broken service

An experienced clinical staff member currently working at LTH, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC that the maternity service at LTH is “completely broken” with chronic understaffing.

This means that “women and babies are not getting the care we want them to get.”

Calls for independent review

Families are now calling for an independent review into LTH to ensure any issues are identified and lessons learned.

Furthermore, the families want a judge-led independent public inquiry to help improve maternity safety across England.

Making improvements

The interim chief inspector of healthcare at the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Chris Dzikiti, said LTH’s maternity services have been, and continue to be, subject to close oversight.

The services at LTH’s two hospitals were inspected last month further to concerns raised by families and risks identified by the CQC’s ongoing monitoring of the Trust.

The report of the CQC’s findings is awaited.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said the Government was determined to learn lessons from recent investigations to ensure women and babies:

Comment

This is all too familiar a story of yet more failing maternity services.

This comes after many other maternity services are currently under close scrutiny for their maternity services.

Families and babies are being significantly failed, and this is not the standard of care that ought to be expected in this day and age. Such failings are clearly leading to avoidable harm and avoidable deaths.

Expectant mothers, their families, and their unborn babies should expect to feel safe, cared for, and supported throughout pregnancy, labour, and delivery.

Change is not just needed; it is vital to ensure that patients are receiving the care they deserve.