Call for ‘proper scrutiny’ into rise in baby deaths

are facing calls for “proper scrutiny” into 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 Scotministers tish 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 at the Scottish Parliament.

Hespokeoutafterthehealthcare 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 over the course of the year.

However, the review did not find evidence of systemic failures of maternity or neonatal care or “unusual factors” 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 across Scotland.”

But she said there were “no plans” for the issue to be debated at Holyrood with the minister instead saying MSPS would be informed via letter of the work the Government is doing.

However, Mr Cole-hamilton said: “If there is time for Parliament to hold a series of debates on the Scottish Government’s ridiculous independence papers, there is time for proper scrutiny of important public health matters like this.”

The Liberal Democrat MSP stated: “There can be few more pressing priorities for a government than uncovering why the death rate among newborn babies has spiked. That’s why I wrote to the public health minister to press for these reports to be published after they were delayed last year.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We have accepted the findings and recommendations of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s (HIS) report and are working on next steps with partners – including HIS, Public Health Scotland and the Scottish Perinatal Network. The HIS review found no evidence of systemic failures of maternity or neonatal care, unusual factors or a cluster of any one factor that would account for the significantincreaseinneonataldeaths in 2021-22.

The report noted at the outset that there was no evidence of systemic failures in maternity or neonatal care, or any unusual factors Jenni Minto