Families and MPs call on Prime Minister to intervene in Leeds Maternity Inquiry
A letter signed by five MPs whose constituents are affected will be handed into Downing Street on Wednesday by bereaved families.
A cross-party group of MPs has urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to intervene in the setting-up of an inquiry into maternity services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, calling for the senior midwife investigating similar failings in Nottingham to be immediately appointed chair.
A letter signed by five MPs whose constituents are affected will be handed into Downing Street on Wednesday by bereaved families.
It urges Sir Keir to appoint Donna Ockenden to chair the inquiry announced by health secretary Wes Streeting last year, after he met campaigning Leeds parents, and for the Government to make sure the inquiry begins quickly.
Ms Ockenden is currently examining how hundreds of babies died or were injured in the care of Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, following her review into mother and baby deaths at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
She said on Wednesday that she "stands ready" to chair the Leeds review and can begin work immediately "if asked".
The letter has been signed by Michelle Welsh, the Labour MP for Sherwood Forest who is chair of the all-party parliamentary group for maternity; Fabian Hamilton, the Labour MP for Leeds North East; Richard Burgon, the Labour MP for Leeds East; Sir Alec Shelbrooke, the Conservative MP for Wetherby and Easingwold; and Iqbal Mohamed, the independent MP for Dewsbury and Batley.
It said: "Throughout their campaigning and in the meeting itself, families have been very clear that it is Ms Donna Ockenden who needs to lead this inquiry.
"They have highlighted that she is the only person who has the experience, proven process and track record of performing an Inquiry of this scale and importance.
"Furthermore, crucially, she has gained the complete trust of families and frontline NHS workforce."
Mr Streeting has said Ms Ockenden would not be the chair, citing her work capacity with respect to the Nottingham review.
But the MPs told the Prime Minister in their letter: "It is important that we make clear to you what has happened, and that the Leeds bereaved and harmed families feel this is nothing less than a complete betrayal of their trust.
"Over many years they have been campaigning for truth, justice, and a guarantee that what happened to them will not be repeated.
"We are here to support them, and it is vital that you now intervene to revisit and reverse the decision not to appoint Donna Ockenden and her team."
Ms Ockeden said on Wednesday: "I have made it clear on multiple occasions to the Secretary of State for Health, his officials and team, that I stand ready to Chair the review into Leeds maternity services and can begin work immediately if asked.
"The independent inquiry into Nottingham maternity services that I am chairing is now in its final stages, with the report due to be delivered in June.
"Over many years, my team and I have developed both the robust methodology and the deep expertise required to undertake reviews of this scale and complexity."
The campaigning Leeds families welcomed the announcement of the inquiry last year after Mr Streeting said he was "shocked" by their experiences of "repeated maternity failures in Leeds".
This followed a BBC investigation revealed the deaths of at least 56 babies and two mothers over the past five years may have been prevented.
The parents have said they felt gaslit, dismissed and even blamed for what went wrong at Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTH) NHS Trust.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Every family who has lost a baby deserves answers, and we are determined to ensure they get them. We are actively working with families in Leeds to appoint a chair and agree terms of reference for this vital review.
"No-one should experience sub-standard maternity care, and this Government will not rest until women, babies and families get the care they need, in Leeds and beyond.
"We're taking urgent action to improve maternity services across the country - investing over £130 million to make units safer, rolling out programmes to reduce avoidable brain injury and piloting Martha's Rule in maternity services."