Maternity negligence claims at Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Families affected by maternity care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust often come to us seeking answers, clarity and reassurance about what happened during pregnancy, labour or their baby's birth at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) or St James's University Hospital.
The Government has appointed Donna Ockenden to lead an independent review into maternity and services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The review follows concerns raised by families about maternity care and is expected to examine stillbirths, deaths, serious incidents, hypoxic brain injuries and maternal deaths over a 15-year period between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2025. The final Terms of Reference are still being developed with families, and individual case reviews are expected to begin from August 2026.
The review is an important opportunity for families to have their experiences heard and to help improve maternity care for future parents and babies. However, if you have concerns about the care you or your baby received, you do not need to wait for the review to progress before seeking independent legal advice.
Our specialist maternity negligence solicitors understand that many families are looking for answers long before an inquiry reaches its conclusions. If you have concerns about your care or your baby's care, you do not have to wait for the inquiry to begin or report before seeking legal advice.
We are one of the UK's leading birth injury teams, with extensive experience in complex maternity and birth injury claims. Our lawyers have represented hundreds of families affected by failures in maternity care across England, including those involved in major investigations such as the Nottingham maternity review. We continue to support families through some of the country's most significant maternity negligence cases while campaigning for greater accountability and safer maternity services.
As a nationally recognised medical negligence firm, we are trusted to handle some of the most serious birth injury and maternity negligence claims. Our expertise is recognised by leading organisations, including APIL, and we are known for providing compassionate, expert support to families whose lives have been changed by avoidable harm.
If you are concerned about the maternity care you or your baby received at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we can help you understand what happened, explain your options and advise whether you may be able to make a maternity negligence claim.
Call us on 0800 138 0458 to get started, or send a message via the form on our site.
Reach out to us today for a free, no-obligation consultation by calling
0800 1380 458, or contacting us through the website.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is the subject of a new independent review into its maternity and services, led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden.
The review follows concerns raised by families about the care they received and is expected to examine stillbirths, deaths, serious incidents, hypoxic brain injuries and maternal deaths over a 15-year period, from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2025. The review will also consider how concerns raised by families and staff were handled, as well as governance and accountability within the Trust. The final Terms of Reference are currently being developed with families.
Alongside the independent review, maternity services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have been subject to:
We are specialist maternity negligence solicitors with extensive experience in complex birth injury and fatality claims. We have supported hundreds of families affected by avoidable harm during pregnancy, labour and birth, including those involved in major maternity reviews across England.
The independent review will not determine whether clinical negligence occurred in individual cases or whether compensation should be paid. However, it may provide important context for families seeking answers about the care they or their baby received.
Many parents tell us they only came forward after learning that other families had experienced similar concerns. If you have questions about your maternity care, you do not need to wait for the review to progress before seeking independent legal advice.
Our specialist team supports families affected by maternity care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and other NHS Trusts. We are accredited by leading legal bodies and experienced in complex birth injury cases, including cerebral palsy, hypoxic brain injury, stillbirth, and death.
We work with independent medical experts to understand what happened and whether care fell below acceptable standards. We help families access answers, explore NHS complaints, and assess whether a legal claim may be possible.
We understand families are often seeking answers, not immediate legal action. You will have a dedicated solicitor who explains everything clearly, listens carefully, and supports you at your own pace throughout the process.
Many maternity negligence claims are funded on a “no win, no fee” basis. We explain all funding options clearly from the outset so you understand any costs and how your case will be supported.
Our specialist maternity negligence team has extensive experience supporting families whose lives have been changed by avoidable harm during pregnancy, labour and birth. We help parents find answers, understand what happened and, where appropriate, secure the compensation they need to support their family's future.
We regularly represent families whose babies have sustained serious birth injuries, including hypoxic brain injuries and cerebral palsy, where lifelong care and support may be needed. We also act for families following stillbirth, and maternal injuries, helping them investigate whether different care could have prevented the outcome.
With the appointment of Donna Ockenden to lead the independent review into maternity and services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, many families are beginning to ask questions about the care they received. We understand the uncertainty this can create and recognise that every family's experience is unique. While the review may identify wider themes and lessons, our role is to investigate the individual circumstances of your care and establish whether negligent treatment occurred.
When you instruct us, we take the time to listen carefully to your experience before obtaining your medical records and seeking independent expert evidence where appropriate. We will explain our findings in clear, straightforward language and provide honest advice about whether you have grounds to bring a claim.
Where a child has sustained a life-changing injury, we focus on securing compensation that reflects their long-term needs. This can include funding for specialist therapies, rehabilitation, adapted accommodation, mobility equipment, education, care and support, helping families achieve greater security and the best possible quality of life for the future.
“Sarah adopts a personable and open approach with her clients and is a knowledgeable, practicable and tenacious litigator with an admirable knowledge of her clients’ needs and interests. Sarah will go above and beyond what is expected and will exceed her client’s expectations in achieving fair and just outcomes for her clients. Sarah is instrumental in bettering the quality of life for her clients and has fought vigorously for each of her clients to achieve a better outlook for them and a happier, brighter future.”
Litigation Friend of Medical Negligence (brain injured) Client
Suzanne Munroe and Sarah Tipton-Walker have been doing this work for many years and really are specialists in the field of claimant clinical negligence. They are approachable and reasonable to deal with.
The Legal 500
I would like to say a massive thank you to you and your team for your tireless effort in helping me with my claim. This has definitely become a success and words can’t express how grateful I am.
Medical Negligence Client
In November 2018, baby Leo Thomson was born prematurely by emergency section at Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax. Tragically, Leo died just one day later at Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield, after suffering brain damage at birth.
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust has been fined £1.6 Million by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after admitting to failing to provide safe treatment for three mothers and three babies who tragically died within months of each other in 2021.
The mother of a young woman born with a brain injury, caused after being starved of oxygen for too long, has spoken of the family’s 25-year struggle for justice. A High Court judge found failings in her care led to a negligent delay in delivery.
A teenage girl with severe physical and learning disabilities has been awarded compensation worth £21.6 million after a London hospital NHS Trust admitted that her injuries could have been avoided if appropriate care had been provided.
The High Court in London has approved a multimillion pound settlement for a man who sustained severe brain injuries at birth. Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust admitted his injuries could have been prevented with proper care.
The inquest into the death of Baby Wynter Andrews concluded with the coroner stating that “obvious neglect” had contributed to Wynter’s death. It is hoped that the findings of the inquest will bring about greater scrutiny and transparency into the practices of NUHT.
Contact us today and let's start your journey towards recovery together. Call us today on 0800 1380 458, or get in touch via our form.
We help families affected by a wide range of maternity care concerns at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, including:
We recognise the numerous challenges mothers may face during childbirth. At Switalskis, we're here to support you with your birth injury case. If you've experienced any form of injury during childbirth, rest assured that we're here for you. Types of birth injuries to the mother include:
Sometimes, a healthcare professional's oversight can result in an injury to your child with long-lasting effects. If your child has suffered any type of birth injury, we're committed to providing the legal support you need. Types of birth injuries to the child include:
The Leeds Teaching Hospitals maternity review is an independent review of maternity and services led by Donna Ockenden. It was announced by the Government following concerns raised by families about the care they received at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The review is expected to examine eligible cases involving stillbirths, deaths, serious incidents, hypoxic brain injuries and maternal deaths between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2025. It will also consider how concerns raised by families and staff were handled, with the aim of improving the safety and quality of maternity care.
The review is expected to include eligible maternity and cases at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust that fall within the agreed Terms of Reference. The Government has said the review will follow an opt-out approach, meaning eligible families will automatically be included unless they choose not to take part. The final scope of the review is still being developed with families, and individual clinical case reviews are expected to begin from August 2026.
No. You do not have to wait for the Leeds maternity review before seeking legal advice or starting a maternity negligence claim. The independent review and a legal claim are separate processes. If you believe mistakes during your pregnancy, labour or birth caused avoidable harm to you or your baby, you can speak to a specialist solicitor at any time. Seeking advice early is often beneficial because medical negligence claims are usually subject to legal time limits.
We understand that taking legal action is a significant decision, and many families want clarity before deciding what to do next.
We can help you by:
We explain everything in clear, straightforward language and always at your pace.
Compensation cannot change what has happened, but it can help provide long-term stability and support for families.
It may help with:
We recognise that every family’s circumstances are unique, and we approach every case with care and sensitivity.
For many families, seeking answers involves more than legal proceedings alone.
We also support clients through:
This may include supporting families involved in national reporting, including BBC Panorama, where experiences are shared to help improve maternity safety for others.
Switalskis is nationally recognised for its expertise in complex clinical negligence and birth injury claims.
Our specialist team supports families affected by serious maternity care failings, including cases involving lifelong injury and bereavement.
We are known for:
We understand the emotional and practical impact these cases have on families.
At Switalskis, our dedicated team offers a professional service that goes beyond the legal formalities, to take the stress out of the process and allow you to focus on your recovery. We take the time to understand your needs, to make the process as simple as possible and represent your interests effectively. Our approach to medical negligence compensation claims is underpinned by the following principles:
Medical negligence cases often include a combination of legal and clinical terminology that can be difficult to decipher. We're committed to breaking things down and offering clear communication that lets you know exactly what to expect from the process and where your case is up to.
Making a medical negligence claim while dealing with recovery from an injury or illness can lead to a lot of emotional strain without the right support. Switalskis will stand by your side and offer emotional support alongside our excellent service and legal advice.
Our solicitors have a thorough understanding of both the legal and medical aspects of a clinical negligence claim, which means we're adept at gathering evidence and assessing your needs. Our strong track record of success means we're well-placed to deliver the best possible outcome for you.
When poor medical care, a delayed diagnosis or a surgical error lead to harm, patients have the right to pursue compensation and justice for their injuries. Switalskis will make sure your voice is heard during this process and protect your rights throughout your legal journey.
For definitions of terms used in these FAQs, visit our Glossary page
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If you are concerned about maternity care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, we offer a free, confidential discussion to help you understand your options.
There is no obligation to proceed, and many families speak to us simply to gain clarity about what happened.
If you decide to move forward, we will guide you step by step through the process and support you throughout. Call 0800 138 0458 to speak to our clinical negligence team, or use the form on our website to send us a message.