Donna Ockenden Appointed to Lead Leeds Maternity Services Investigation
Senior midwife and investigator Donna Ockenden has been officially named as chair of an independent investigation into maternity services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The appointment comes after Health Secretary Wes Streeting ordered the probe in October, expressing shock at repeated maternity failures and what he described as the trust's unacceptable response to these tragedies.
Families' Long-Awaited Victory
The announcement represents a significant victory for grieving families who have campaigned tirelessly for Ms Ockenden's appointment. Campaigners including Fiona Winser-Ramm and Daniel Ramm, Amarjit and Mandip Matharoo, and Lauren Caulfield - all of whom lost babies at the trust - escalated their concerns to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last month, demanding that Ms Ockenden lead the investigation.
Ms Matharoo responded to the appointment by stating: "It has been a long, drawn-out and emotionally draining process to get the assurances that this investigation will be handled with the appropriate methodology and care that it needs. We are grateful that Wes Streeting has listened carefully to all of the evidence we put to him about our concerns and why Donna should be appointed as chair."
Ockenden's Commitment to Families
Ms Ockenden, who is simultaneously examining how hundreds of babies died or were injured in Nottingham's maternity services, emphasized her profound sense of responsibility in a statement. "It is an honour to have been asked to chair this review, and I feel a profound sense of responsibility to the parents, babies and healthcare professionals it concerns to ensure that we get this right," she said.
The senior investigator stressed that the review "must remain firmly focused on the families who, in many instances, have waited far too long for answers to questions about their care." She committed to listening carefully to both families and staff, understanding what has gone wrong, and ensuring timely implementation of necessary changes to guarantee safe, high-quality perinatal care for all mothers and babies.
Background of the Investigation
The investigation follows a BBC investigation earlier in 2025 which suggested that the deaths of at least 56 babies and two mothers over the past five years might have been prevented with better care. The full terms of the Leeds investigation have yet to be finalized, but it is expected to examine events between January 1, 2011 and December 1, 2025.
For Lauren Caulfield, the appointment came just ten days before what would have been her daughter Grace's fourth birthday. "I feel this is the best gift I could give her, ensuring her little life is actually going to make a change," she said. "We have fought for this review so that families finally get answers and so that future parents in Leeds can feel confident that both mothers and babies will make it home safely."
Government Response and Next Steps
Health Secretary Wes Streeting spoke directly with affected families on Tuesday and confirmed that the government will begin work next month on establishing the investigation's terms of reference. Addressing the Leeds families, he said: "I want to say thank you for your openness during our detailed discussions in recent weeks, and the courage you continue to show in sharing your experiences and advocating for lasting change, so other families do not experience the unimaginable tragedies you have gone through."
Mr Streeting emphasized that "this review must deliver for you and for the sake of all families who rightly expect to receive safe and high-quality maternity care in the NHS," adding that Ms Ockenden's leadership "will bring us closer to the lasting change so desperately needed in Leeds."
Broader Context and Calls for Wider Investigation
Ms Ockenden brings extensive experience to the role, having previously led the review into mother and baby deaths at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. She is currently completing her investigation into Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, with a final report expected this summer. There have also been calls for her to lead an investigation into maternity care at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, which was announced by Mr Streeting last June.
Daniel Ramm highlighted that the Leeds review should "look closely at the role of regulators, including the Care Quality Commission," suggesting the investigation may have broader implications for NHS oversight mechanisms.
Legal Representation and Future Engagement
Katie Warner, a medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing more than 40 families impacted by maternity care issues in Leeds, welcomed the development. "We have a significant number of ongoing maternity cases against Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and we continue to be approached on a regular basis," she said.
Warner added: "It's hugely encouraging that the review is beginning to move forward and all credit to the Leeds families and the support group for their hard work and determination. It is important that terms of reference are now finalised, with input from all parties, as soon as possible so that the review can begin."
Fiona Winser-Ramm, whose daughter Aliona died in 2020, issued a call to action: "We are calling on all those who have been harmed, or whose babies have been harmed, to reach out and engage with the review. Whether it was 11 years ago or 11 months ago, your experience matters. Your baby's life and well-being matters, as does yours."
