Probe over sixth childbirth death

A HOSPITAL trust which was cleared of wrongdoing in the deaths of five pregnant women is at the centre of an inquiry by health watchdogs after it reported another fatality.

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Hospital Trust (SWBH) has revealed the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch is conducting an investigation after the woman died during childbirth.

In September it published a review into the deaths of a mother and four pregnant women who were treated at Birmingham City Hospital, saying there was ‘no evidence of poor care’.

But a report to a meeting this week shows a sixth woman died only days after that investigation was published. In the latest report, a brief summary states: “Woman in her first pregnancy with spontaneous rupture of membranes in early September. Induction of labour with delivery of baby in good condition using forceps. Patient reported chest pain then became unresponsive but despite resuscitation passed away.”

Two months ago, SWBH announced the findings of investigators into the deaths of five women who died between August 2017 and January 2019. Four were pregnant at the time they died and one woman passed away less than a month after giving birth. Only two of the deaths occurred in hospital.

The trust said it ordered the review to ensure its own investigations were thorough and all areas of learning in the care of identified.

Investigators cleared staff of any wrongdoing despite concerns the best care was not followed in three cases, saying that it did not directly contribute to the deaths.

The trust declined to disclose the woman’s name or reveal the cause of death in the latest case.

Paula Gardner, Chief Nurse, said: “It is with sadness that we report a maternal death that occurred at City Hospital during September. We have conducted an initial review of the case and, in line with normal procedure, the case was reported to the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch who will carry out an independent investigation.”

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