Health secretary Wes Streeting has appointed a new chair to lead the maternity inquiry in Leeds.
Senior midwife Donna Ockenden will lead an independent review into maternity and neonatal services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT).
This follows ‘repeated maternity failures’ in Leeds, and an independent review which was announced last October.
Ms Ockenden, who is currently chairing the Nottingham maternity review, said it is an ‘honour’ to have been asked to lead the inquiry.
‘This 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 said.
‘My priority will be to listen carefully to families and staff, to understand what has gone wrong, and to ensure that the lessons are learned and the changes required are made, in a timely way, thus ensuring that all mothers, their babies and families receive safe, high-quality perinatal care,’ she added.
Ms Ockenden has extensive experience as both a nurse and midwife and has a track record of uncovered systemic failings in maternity care, including examining maternity practices at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust.
Mr Streeting thanked families in Leeds for their ‘openness during our detailed discussions in recent weeks’ and the courage they have shown in sharing experiences and advocating for change.
He added: ‘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.
‘Donna Ockenden’s leadership will bring us closer to the lasting change so desperately needed in Leeds.’
Brendan Brown, chief executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: ‘We welcome the announcement that a Chair has been appointed to lead the independent review, and we are absolutely committed to working openly, honestly and transparently with Donna Ockenden and the review team, and with families who have used our services.
‘We hope this announcement will give reassurance to families that the review can now move forward and provide the answers they deserve.’
The government confirmed that terms of reference for the review are yet to be agreed, but the review is expected to include case reviews of stillbirths, neonatal deaths and serious incidents, hypoxic injuries and maternal deaths over a 15-year timeframe, from 1 Jan 2011 to 31 Dec 2025.
Last month, interim findings from an investigation led by Baroness Amos into maternity and neonatal services in England were published.
