It has recently been reported in the press that the deaths of at least 56 babies, and two mothers, may have been prevented at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust maternity units over the past five years. Despite the maternity units at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust being rated “good” by England’s healthcare regulator CQC, Leeds has the highest neonatal mortality rate in the UK.
In a Freedom of Information request obtained by the BBC, it was revealed there were “at least 56 cases from January 2019 to July 2024, made up of 27 stillbirths and 29 neonatal deaths.” It is reported that in each case a trust review group found issues with the care provided. Sadly, it was found the issues identified may have made a difference to the outcome for the babies. Two possibly preventable maternal deaths were also recorded during the same period.
Recent reports show the Trust’s neonatal mortality rate was “4.46 per 1,000 live births in 2022, 70 percent higher than the average rate for comparable NHS Trusts.” This increased from “3.30 per 1,000 live births in 2017.”
A recent inspection has been undertaken by the CQC at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s maternity units. The inspection is said to be as a result of the concerns raised by the families impacted and the risks that have been identified through on-going monitoring. The CQC are due to publish the findings of the report shortly.
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By Molly Mather, graduate paralegal in the medical negligence team
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