The inquiry was launched in October 2025 after a maternity care review made 101 improvement recommendations in July.

The call in a letter seen by the BBC to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer by members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for maternity came after health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said Ockenden, who is leading an inquiry into Nottingham maternity services that will conclude with a report in June, would not chair the inquiry on Leeds.

The letter stated: ‘Leeds families have lost faith and confidence in the secretary of state for health's handling of this inquiry.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘Every family who has lost a baby deserves answers, and we are determined to ensure they get them.

‘No-one should experience substandard maternity care, and this Government will not rest until women, babies and families get the care they need, in Leeds and beyond.

‘We're taking urgent action to improve maternity services across the country - investing over £130m to make units safer, rolling out programmes to reduce avoidable brain injury and piloting Martha's Rule in maternity services.'

Brendan Brown, chief executive, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: ‘I do appreciate the need for families to have answers and certainty on the independent inquiry. We are committed to working openly and constructively with the independent inquiry into maternity care in Leeds and we await further details about this from the Government.

‘Improving our maternity and neonatal services is our absolute priority, and we are moving forward with our improvement plan, to ensure every family receives safe, compassionate, inclusive, and high-quality care here in Leeds. We want to work with the families who have used our services to understand their experiences so we can make real and lasting improvements.'

Donna Ockenden said: ‘I have made it clear on multiple occasions to the secretary of state for health, his officials and team, that I stand ready to Chair the review into Leeds maternity services and can begin work immediately if asked.'