Deaths, delays and poor care in hospitals

DEATHS, delayed diagnosis and poor care were among the serious incidents recorded by the NHS in Birmingham last year.

Among serious incidents at the Heart of England trust in 2016/17 were four unexpected neonatal deaths, as well as two unexpected maternal deaths, including one postnatal death.

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health trust recorded 68 deaths as serious incidents, while there were 29 unexpected or potentially avoidable deaths at the Black Country Partnership. Serious incidents include those that cause unexpected harm or death or those that prevent the organisation providing care.

Other serious incidents recorded in the West Midlands included four issues of child safeguarding at Heart of England, and 12 incidents of assault, violence and harassment at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health trust.

Missing patients or attempted absconsions were an issue 11 times at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health trust.

Heart of England recorded a misplaced nasogastric tube, a retained drain fragment, and in one case a patient having the wrong eye injected.