Two high-profile NHS trusts — the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) and the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTH) — have been dropped from the government’s rapid investigation into maternity and neonatal failings across England.
The removal comes just weeks after the two were confirmed among 14 trusts to be examined under the NHS maternity review, sparking frustration among families seeking answers over years of alleged negligence and systemic failures.
Why Shropshire and Leeds were excluded
Officials confirmed that SaTH was removed following “discussions with West Mercia Police about the detail and schedule of an ongoing investigation.”
The decision means the trust — previously at the centre of one of Britain’s worst maternity scandals — will not be part of the national inquiry while the police inquiry continues.
Meanwhile, the exclusion of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust follows the launch of a separate maternity inquiry announced by Health Secretary Wes Streeting earlier this week. That probe will focus specifically on preventable deaths and safety lapses identified in Leeds’ hospitals.
Historic failures and repeated warnings
The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust was the subject of the landmark Ockenden Review, which in 2022 uncovered catastrophic failures leading to the deaths of more than 200 babies and nine mothers, and leaving others with lifelong injuries.
Following that, West Mercia Police opened a criminal investigation in 2020 and began interviewing current and former staff earlier this year to determine potential criminal responsibility.
In Leeds, a BBC investigation revealed that at least 56 babies and two mothers died over the past five years — deaths believed to be preventable. Inspections earlier in 2025 downgraded the trust’s maternity units from “good” to “inadequate,” citing risks of avoidable harm.
The national review, announced in September, aims to identify and address failures in maternity and neonatal care across the worst-performing NHS trusts in England, with findings expected by December.
Outrage and disappointment from families
Families affected by the SaTH scandal said they were “horrified” by the decision to remove the trust from the national review.
Charlotte Cheshire, whose son was left severely disabled due to maternity failings in Shropshire, said the move silences victims who have fought for accountability for years.
North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan expressed similar concerns, warning that excluding SaTH and Leeds would mean the inquiry “fails to learn from one of the most detailed investigations into maternity failings ever conducted.”
Next steps for maternity care reform
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the separate Leeds-focused inquiry would ensure that families there “learn the truth about what went wrong.” However, campaigners argue that splitting the investigations could fragment lessons learned across the NHS.
Experts say the decision highlights growing tension between criminal investigations, independent reviews, and the need for rapid national reform. As England’s maternity services face unprecedented scrutiny, campaigners insist that every case — especially those already exposed — must be included to rebuild public trust.
