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 Press release
New research exposes problems in improving investigations of cot deaths
A study published today,
funded by the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID), has
identified problems that are preventing paediatricians, pathologists,
police and other professionals from working together to conduct improved
investigations when a baby dies suddenly and unexpectedly.
Joint working is essential
to understand the causes of these tragedies and avoid unnecessary court
cases. A working group
chaired by Baroness Helena Kennedy published a report last September
recommending a standard multi-agency protocol to investigate sudden
infant death. FSID has been
campaigning for five years for local professionals to adopt such a
protocol and many have done so – or at least they have agreed a
protocol on paper but FSID has long had concerns that the transition to
practice was not actually taking place.
Dr Anne Livesey, a
paediatrician, was commissioned by FSID to conduct the first-ever audit
of a protocol. Published
today, it reveals serious failures:
·
no-one is being appointed to take responsibility to ensure
implementation. Currently
this responsibility falls between Chief Executives of several agencies
·
professionals’ interpretation of the protocol varied
·
some professionals in the area are not even informed that
a protocol has been adopted
·
there is inadequate training or no training at all in new
working practices
·
some diagnoses in babies who have died unexpectedly are
being made without consistent and thorough investigation.
Richard Wilson
, FSID, said:
“Failure by health
professionals, the police and social services to work together in
investigating infant deaths increases the risk that cases of child abuse
will go unidentified or that innocent parents will suffer miscarriages
of justice. In FSID’s
experience, Dr Livesey’s findings are typical.
Efforts to encourage agencies to voluntarily introduce change are
not working. Although there
are some areas which are making exceptional efforts it is time for
improved investigation of cot deaths to be made mandatory.
FSID calls on the government to make the recommendations in the
Kennedy report mandatory with out further delay”.
Notes
to editors:
1.
The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths is the
UK
’s leading baby
charity working to
prevent deaths and promote health. FSID
funds research into the causes and prevention of sudden infant deaths,
supports bereaved families and promotes safe baby care advice to parents
and professionals.
2.
FSID’s campaign for a standard protocol to improve
professional responses
to all sudden infant
deaths has three key recommendations:
·
A paediatrician, working in conjunction with the police,
should visit each family within 24 hours of the death to take a
complete medical history and offer initial support to the family
·
All post mortem examinations should be carried out by a
paediatric pathologist, a specialist in babies’ disorders
·
A case discussion should be held with all the
professionals who were involved with the family or the baby to review
all available information, learn as much as possible about why that baby
died, and plan future support for the family
3.
FSID’s Helpline number (0870 787 0554)
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