Leeds maternity scandal: Families hit out over social media post
Families affected by the maternity scandal at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust have criticised a “disrespectful” social media post about a mother’s positive experience giving birth there.
The Leeds Maternity E-Midwife Facebook page, run by the Trust, regularly posts updates and birth stories.
The Trust is currently subject to a major Government inquiry in its maternity services after dozens of babies and mothers either died or were harmed while under its care.
Last week, the page posted a birth story from a mother which discussed the “negativity around the Trust.”
The post read: “There is a lot of negativity around the Trust at the moment, so I really wanted to share how truly positive and empowering I found my birth in the Leeds General Infirmary.”
One bereaved mother who led calls for the inquiry called the publication of the post “disrespectful.”
Lauren Caulfield said on X: “It is beyond disrespectful and insulting to myself and the hundreds, if not thousands, of women, children and families who have been harmed or killed at the hands of Leeds Teaching Hospitals.”
The post has since been deleted.
Brendan Brown, Chief Executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “I am truly sorry for the distress we caused families with the recent post on our Leeds Maternity E-Midwife Facebook page. We were wrong to publish this post as it appeared, and in response to the feedback, we removed it to avoid further upset.
“It was never our intention to cause additional pain to harmed and bereaved families, and we are reviewing how we share content on this page in the future.”