Department of Health makes commitment after bereaved mothers raise fears over Wes Streeting resignation
Wes Streeting has not yet responded to the families’ concerns
The Department of Health has given assurance that a review into gross failures by the maternity services in Leeds will go ahead after “fears” were raised by families.
There was concern that “momentum could be disrupted” and that families would go through further distress following the resignation of Wes Streeting yesterday (Thursday) as Health Secretary.
For years families in Leeds have been campaigning and calling for an inquiry into “gross failures of the most basic nature” on the maternity wards in the city that led to the deaths of dozens of babies.
The affected families, who formed the Leeds Maternity Families Group, had met with Mr Streeting on multiple occasions over the years to push for an independent review to take place and ensure that their chosen pick for chair would be appointed.
Following his departure from the Cabinet, the families issued a statement saying that it had brought “a lot of uncertainty” and concerns that the new secretary may not “fully grasp the severity of the issues that have been directly raised”.
The statement read: “There is a fear that the momentum that led to the Leeds review could be disrupted, and whether families will once again have to spend months rebuilding relationships, and re-living traumatic experiences.
“The focus of current and future leadership should be on listening to voices of harmed and bereaved families, at a time when there is still so much work to be done to make maternity services across the country safe.”
In response, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said that the independent review “will continue”, adding: “The government remains committed to improving maternity safety and the Ockenden review will set out the changes needed to ensure services are safe and equitable for every family.
“The voices of those who have been harmed or bereaved will always be central to this work.”
Mr Streeting’s office has been contacted for a response.