Baby death rates to be reviewed at 20 NHS trusts and health boards

A team of experts from MBRRACE-UK (Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk Through Audits and Confidential Enquiries) has called for a review by NHS health boards and trusts into their maternity care to see whether deaths amongst babies were due to mistakes.

Out of 162 trusts and boards, 21 were red flagged and told that a review should take place, and a further 52 were given an orange flag, meaning that they have been advised to consider holding a review.

Prof David Field from MBRRACE-UK said “These data provide NHS trusts and health boards from around the UK with the clearest insight yet in helping them understand their performance against their peers. Whilst there is always room for improvement, the data flags those trusts and health boards which need to review their performance as a priority.”

He went on to say “One big confounding factor is congenital abnormalities. We have clusters where mums won’t consider a termination so the baby dies in hospital.”

Charlotte Bevan, senior research and prevention adviser at Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, said “This report gives us a snapshot of baby deaths across the country and what it tells us is that there is huge variation, even when you compare like-for-like units. The question we need to answer is why. We know from the recent national confidential inquiry that 60% of babies who die before they are born and close to their due dates might have been saved if basic guidelines in antenatal care were followed.”

The data was published at around the time that an NHS survey showed that one in seven women is worried and feels left alone during early labour, and only 50% feel they get the support they need in the immediate period after birth.

The poll, which was carried out by the CQC, involved 20,000 women and 133 NHS trusts throughout England. Only 64% of women polled said that they were seen by a member of staff within a reasonable time during labour and only 54% after the birth.

The CQC’s chief inspector of hospitals, Prof Sir Mike Richards, said “Every single woman deserves to be treated with dignity and personalised care when having a baby, and so I am glad that the findings suggest women are experiencing better care and treatment during pregnancy and birth.

“From our own inspection work of maternity services so far – rating just over 60% of trusts as either good or outstanding – there is no doubt of the improvement work that is still needed in order to narrow the wide gap of variation that we know exists.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s team of Medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex Medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record. The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of Medical negligence. He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in Medical negligence claims. Tony also acts as the Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled. Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk. Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist Medical negligence Legal Aid and no win-no fee solicitors for free legal advice on the freephone number below.

Freephone: 0800 028 2969

For further information, please see our cerebral palsy and birth injury website:
http://www.cerebralpalsyclaimssolicitors.co.uk

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.