HSJ Health Check How the Leeds Way went wrong
Oct 24, 2025
Matt Mathers, a health reporter specializing in NHS trust investigations, and Ben Clover, a journalist focused on NHS technology, delve into the turmoil surrounding Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. They discuss the shocking maternity scandal and governance failures that prompted an independent inquiry. Mathers reveals the troubling timeline of when issues arose, while Clover explains a looming legal challenge in Liverpool that could reshape NHS digital strategy. Leadership turnover and the scrutiny of maternity services also highlight the complex landscape of healthcare accountability.
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Size, Case-Mix And Hidden Risk
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals is a very large, complex trust serving deprived areas and specialist services which skews comparative data.
- High perinatal mortality there may reflect case-mix but still masks serious safety concerns over recent years.
When The Problem Became Public
- Matt first noticed the crisis when Leeds admitted more than 50 baby deaths and two maternal deaths might have been preventable.
- Individual family cases he investigated date back to 2020–2021, with some concerns going back 15 years.
Independent Inquiry Replaces National Probe
- The health secretary ordered an independent inquiry into Leeds maternity, removing it from the national probe.
- Details like leadership, terms of reference and timelines remain undecided, increasing uncertainty for families and staff.