NHS holds inquiry over baby’s death

A HEALTH board has set up an i nquiry after a newborn baby died in ‘ avoidable’ circumstances.

The infant, who has not been named, died at Caithness General Hospital.

Women will be transferred to another maternity unit while NHS Highland investigates.

When the mother of the child went in to labour, it was decided she should stay at Caithness – which has no neonatal intensive care – instead of going to the larger Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

After a complicated delivery, the baby became unwell and died. The full results of the post-mortem examination are not yet available but prelimi- nary results are understood to point to a severe infection. An initial review found the child could have been saved if there had been ‘more timely and immediate access to advanced support in Inverness’.

The preliminary report found no failings in the care provided by individual staff. While the inquiry is carried out, more mothers will be transferred to Raigmore for labour and antenatal care. Mothers who choose to have caesarean births will remain at Caithness, and obstetric clinics and scans will continue as usual.

Dr Rod Harvey, medical director for NHS Highland, said: ‘Regrettably, our preliminary investigations have determined that this death was potentially avoidable.

‘ Having considered the events leading up to the death and to ensure that as far as is possible these circumstances do not happen again, the clinical team have made a number of recommendations that have already been put in place.

‘ These changes are to improve the safety of mothers and babies during labour and birth in the Caithness maternity unit while we await the outcome and implications of a more detailed review.’