A damning new report by NHS England has raised significant concerns about Leeds NHS maternity services, citing serious issues with patient safety, understaffing, and a toxic work culture at Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTH) NHS Trust.
The review, conducted in March, found critical lapses in care that may have contributed to avoidable harm, injuries, and even the deaths of newborns. NHS England issued 101 urgent recommendations to address systemic failures and improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
Staffing Issues and Poor Monitoring
The report highlighted staff shortages, outdated or insufficient cardiotocography (CTG) machines used to monitor babies during labour, and a lack of leadership presence—especially during nights and weekends. Escalation processes were described as weak, with staff reports of unresolved safety concerns and inadequate learning from past incidents.
Whistleblowers and Bereaved Families Raise Alarms
BBC News spoke to 67 families who described substandard care, including babies who died or were left with life-altering injuries. Five whistleblowers have also come forward, criticizing the trust for failing to act on previous warnings and neglecting progress on known risks.
One whistleblower said that many concerns identified in the March report had already been raised as early as January in a Rapid Quality Review Meeting. Despite this, they claim little to no action had been taken by the time the report was published.
A group of bereaved families described the report as “shocking and horrifying,” calling for an independent inquiry into LTH maternity services. “The culture of denial and absence of accountability are systemic and persistent,” a spokesperson said.
Hospitals Downgraded as CEO Announces Retirement
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) downgraded LTH’s maternity units from “good” to “inadequate” just weeks before the report’s release. Soon after, the trust’s CEO Phil Wood announced he would retire by the end of the year. Families expressed concern over the timing, questioning the lack of accountability, especially since Mr. Wood was in leadership roles during periods of documented failings.
Trust Promises Urgent Reforms
Rabina Tindale, Chief Nurse at LTH, apologised to affected families and pledged swift reforms. “This report has highlighted significant areas where we must improve. My priority is to deliver these recommendations urgently and compassionately,” she said.
Mr. Wood added that he remains committed to implementing ongoing maternity improvements and will support the upcoming Rapid National Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services
