Sick babies put at risk through lack of breathing tube monitoring

A study conducted by doctors at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust has found that babies in some intensive care units are being put at unnecessary risk by staff not correctly monitoring breathing tubes, leading to a possible risk of serious harm or death due to lack of oxygen.

Researchers involved in the study said that doctors and hospital staff needed to be prepared and ensure they have the best equipment to place breathing tubes correctly.

The study involved interviewing staff at 27 paediatric and 129 neonatal intensive care units throughout the country. It concluded that less than half had the correct equipment to measure carbon dioxide from the lungs.

The researchers found that without the correct equipment or proper monitoring, serious harm or death had occurred in 19 per cent of the paediatric units and 26 per cent of the neonatal units over the last five years.

One of the study authors, Professor Tim Cook, said “We hope that the neonatal units where capnography is already being used can share best practice with other colleagues to hep implement this important technology more widely.

“In the case of low weight neonates, more research is needed to establish whether measuring carbon dioxide is useful and improves care.”

Chief executive of charity Bliss, Caroline Lee-Davey, said “It is extremely important that the recommendations of this crucial research are taken on board by NHS trusts across the country in order to ensure that babies on neonatal units receive the highest possible standard of care.

“The forthcoming NHS England Neonatal Review should incorporate these recommendations as part of its wider programme to improve staffing and consistency of care across neonatal units.”

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 304 7382

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