This morning, the government has announced a rapid review of maternity care at 14 NHS Trusts, including University Hospitals of Leicester.
Parents trust that maternity care will be safe, compassionate and focused on bringing their baby into the world in the best possible way. But for too many families, that trust has been broken.
The review will look into what Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has described as “failures in the system” after repeated concerns about unsafe care, poor leadership and a failure to learn from past mistakes.
The human cost of systemic failures
Research from baby loss charities, Sands and Tommy’s suggests that over 800 baby deaths in 2022 – 2023 might have been prevented if maternity care had been better. Families affected by these tragedies have spoken of being ignore, dismissed, or left without answers: a pattern that has been seen in previous inquiries at Morecombe Bay, East Kent and Shrewsbury and Telford (the Ockenden Review).
For parents, this isn’t about statistics. It’s about the trauma of losing a child or suffering life-changing harm during what should be a joyful time. The impact is not only physical but also emotional and psychological, often lasting for years.
Why this matters for Leicester families (and all other families)
University Hospitals of Leicester is one of the Trusts being reviewed. For families in our local community, this is a critical moment. It is a chance to make sure voices are heard, lessons are learned, and meaningful change happens – not just another report that gathers Trust.
The same sentiment applies to the other communities involved and serviced by the 13 remaining Trusts included in the rapid review.
Of note, “particular attention” will be given to examining why black and Asian families have noticeably poor outcomes – something that is vital in today’s multi-cultural society.
Our commitment to families
At Moosa-Duke Solicitors, we see every day how maternity failures affect parents and their families. As a result, we are passionate about ensuring that families are supported, empowered and heard throughout the legal process.
Our approach means that we handle maternity cases with care and sensitivity, and we work with other stakeholders to drive meaningful change.
Moving forward
For real change to happen, there needs to be a full national enquiry and a full review of the systems as a whole – including regulators and the way safety incidents are handled – as these clearly need reform.
Mehmooda Duke, Partner at Moosa-Duke Solicitors and founder member of Do No Harm, says:
"The Rapid National Investigation is a step in the right direction. If positive changes are made and the lives of mothers and babies are saved, and harm to mums and babies is avoided, then then this is a good start; Families are being put at the heart of the work. There is talk of a providing high quality and safe maternity services; This is what our clients want; Patient safety has to be at the heart of everything. Families need answers, accountability and the assurance that lessons will be put into practice leading to nationwide improvements in maternity care."
Hannah Carr, Legal Director and Specialist Medical Negligence from MDS, said “The review of 14 NHS maternity trusts is vital. Every family deserves safe, compassionate care and lessons must be learned so tragedies are not repeated."
