8 hours ago
Demands for cops to investigate deaths of hundreds of babies across Scotland
Campaigners are concerned about the number of newborns dying in maternity units and have called for urgent action.
Police are facing demands to investigate the deaths of hundreds of babies across Scotland.
The Sunday Mail has learned campaigners reported concerns about the number of newborns dying in maternity units and have called for urgent action. But Police Scotland insists it has 'noted' the concerns, but has so far refused to open a formal investigation.
It comes as forces in England are currently probing the deaths of hundreds of babies at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust after a review found catastrophic failings. Scottish campaign group ASAP-NHS, led by former Crown prosecutor for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Roger Livermore, contacted Police Scotland in February over their concerns about baby death rates in Scotland.
Recent figures show about 500 babies have died since 2019, with health boards paying compensation in 131 cases of baby death or injury. The total compensation bill in the last five years is more than £74million with about a third of that being paid out by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Livermore said: 'We have been very concerned about the large number of babies dying unnecessarily and unlawfully all over Scotland. We have reported them to the police and Lord Advocate but no effective action has been taken.
'There are major problems in maternity services across all parts of the UK. Current scandals in England are being investigated by the police. Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain has held a very small number of fatal accident inquiries on the situation at individual health boards. This is not sufficient.
'Overarching law requires that deaths must be handled and investigated by a person and body independent of government – not a member of it. In the rest of the UK this is the HM Coroner system.'
Livermore said he was concerned that Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the NHS watchdog in Scotland, had never carried out maternity unit inspections before this year. He said that reviews into serious incidents which have resulted in death or harm to patients, known as serious adverse event reviews, are also not being routinely published.
He said: 'Frontline staff such as midwives are aware of the problems and have already raised concerns about the situation across the country. The internal reports, when they are forced out of NHS boards under Freedom of Information, show that the same problems are endlessly repeated. Lessons are not learnt. The public are totally kept in the dark.'
As previously reported by the Sunday Mail, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was rapped by health watchdogs after it emerged hundreds of serious adverse event reviews had not been carried out, years after the incidents had happened.
The health board recorded more than 1000 'Category 1 significant adverse events' that may have contributed to or resulted in permanent harm or death of patients in the last five years. Police Scotland said that it had received the report but was not planning on taking any action.
The force said: 'There is no police investigation into baby deaths at Scottish maternity units.'
Between January and October last year, 262 incidents were recorded with just 14 reviews completed at all, and just one within the 90-day timescale. In 2017, NHS Ayrshire and Arran was criticised over the 'unnecessary' deaths of six babies at Crosshouse hospital, with staff shortages affecting patient care.
In 2018, Freya Murphy died at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after medics failed to notice she was being starved of oxygen during delivery. An FAI found staffing levels were an issue.
