Call for scrutiny over baby deaths

MINISTERS are facing calls for “proper scrutiny” of a rise in baby deaths in Scotland – with Liberal Democrats demanding a report into the issue be debated at Holyrood.

The Scottish Government commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland to carry out a review after there was a higher than expected number of deaths involving newborns in both March 2022 and September

2021.

Jenni Minto, the minister for public health and women’s health, insisted the Scottish Government had “accepted the findings of the report and recommendations” and was now “working on the next steps”.

But Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-hamilton insisted the government should also schedule time for the issue to be debated in Holyrood.

He spoke out after the Healthcare Improvement Scotland review found there were 135 neonatal deaths – those which occur within 28 days of birth – in Scotland between April 2021 and March 31 2022.

When compared to the previous four years, there were an estimated 30 additional deaths.

However, the review did not find evidence of systemic failures of maternity or neonatal care that would explain the increase.

Ms Minto, in a letter to Mr Cole-hamilton, accepted the increase in mortality was “concerning”.

She said: “The report noted at the outset that there was no evidence of systemic failures in maternity or neonatal care, or any unusual factors or a cluster of any one factor to explain the increase in neonatal deaths in this period.

“Whilst this provides some reassurance, the increase in mortality remains concerning and the Scottish Government remains committed to improvement in maternity and neonatal safety.”