Calls for inquiry into Leeds maternity services

Concerns were first raised over maternity services in Leeds in January, when an investigation revealed 56 potentially avoidable deaths of 56 babies and two mothers between 2019 and 2024 at both Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s Hospital.

The units have both been downgraded from ‘good’ to ‘inadequate’ by CQC following an unannounced inspection in response to concerns. The inspection found patients “at risk of avoidable harm”, issues with staffing and leadership, and staff being reluctant to raise concerns due to a “blame culture” in the Trust.

Now, 47 further families have come forward with concerns about poor standards of maternity care at the Trust between 2017 and 2024. This includes families whose babies had died or been injured, and mothers who had experienced injury and trauma.

There were also 107 clinical claims made against Leeds Teaching Hospitals for obstetric-related deaths and injuries between April 2015 and April 2024, which was revealed through a BBC Freedom of Information request to NHS Resolution.

Calls are now increasing for an inquiry to be held into maternity services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting being urged to hold an independent review. He has recently been meeting with bereaved families from across the country who have lost babies due to maternity failings, with an announcement on improvements to maternity care expected soon.

This follows calls from several other parts of the country for maternity services both regionally and nationally to be urgently addressed, amidst growing concerns over the quality of care being delivered to mothers and babies. This includes the scandal-hit University Hospitals Sussex, where at least nine babies died over a three-year period and four mothers almost lost their lives.

Jodie Cook, senior associate at Slater and Gordon in Yorkshire, says: “The scale of families who have experienced trauma and loss as a result of maternity failings at Leeds Teaching Hospitals is horrendous. There are clearly deep-rooted problems in maternity services there which need to be addressed and tackled as a matter of urgency.

“Sadly, this is not just a tragedy that is happening in Leeds, but it affects maternity services in many parts of the country. Time and time again we hear the same stories about mothers experiencing poor care, leading to devastating consequences for them and their babies. We see first-hand the utterly heartbreaking and traumatic impact this has on families and it cannot be allowed to continue.

“We hope the announcement from Wes Streeting about maternity care gets to the heart of the problems in our services nationally, and we would also urge him to act on the appeals of families in Leeds and other locations across the country to hold local inquiries. Families want and deserve answers, as well as to save others from the devastation they have had to endure, and this must not be overlooked any longer.”