‘Significant’ concerns over maternity services in Leeds

A "challenging'' culture, staffing problems and a lack of learning lessons from previous incidents were identified at Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTH) NHS Trust in a report from NHS England.

The report was commissioned following serious concerns being raised earlier this year around maternity safety in the Trust, with 101 recommendations being made to improve the quality of care and to protect mothers and babies.

Following concerns being raised, which uncovered that the deaths of at least 56 babies at the Trust may have been preventable, NHS England placed LTH under its national Maternity Safety Support Programme (MSSP). Its maternity services was also downgraded to ‘inadequate’ following a CQC inspection.

Areas of concern in its report include safety concerns being de-escalated without resolution, a lack of CTG machines to effectively monitor mothers, and issues around escalation in expectant mothers’ situations, particularly out of hours.

Families impacted by failings at LTH have said the report makes for “truly horrifying and shocking reading”, following them repeatedly raising concerns over their devastating experiences of care from maternity services.

The Trust’s CEO Phil Wood announced this month, just days ahead of the publication of the report, that he would retire at the end of this year – the timing of which the families said appeared “concerning” given the ongoing issues in maternity services.

Law firm Slater and Gordon represents families across England who have been impacted by failings in maternity care and is a passionate advocate for change and improvement.

“Major issues in maternity care are truly systemic across the NHS, with Leeds being the latest NHS Trust in which huge failings and concerns are laid bare. Women and babies deserve so much better than this, and the fact that so many have already been let down in the most devastating way must be the catalyst for urgent change,” says Nisha Sharma, principal lawyer at Slater and Gordon.

If you have experienced poor standards of maternity care, our specialist team can help. Call us on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online.