Streeting thanks families for ‘fighting for change’

Yesterday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting spoke to families - and thanked them for “the courage you continue to show in sharing your experiences and advocating for lasting change, so other families do not experience the unimaginable tragedies you have gone through”.

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The bereaved families held a press conference after Donna Ockenden was confirmed as chair of the independent review

It was revealed that senior midwife Donna Ockenden will chair the independent investigation into maternity and neonatal services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTH) NHS Trust, ordered by Mr Streeting in October.

At the time, the Health Secretary said he was “shocked” by “repeated maternity failures” which were “made worse by the unacceptable response of the trust”.

Days later in a radio interview, Streeting announced that Ockenden would not be the chair of the Leeds review.

In February, families and MPs urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to intervene and appoint the senior midwife to head the Leeds inquiry.