Agenda item

The Board is asked to receive the Bury, Rochdale and Oldham Child Death Overview Panel Annual Report for 2019/20 and consider the recommendations therein.

The Board received the 2019/20 Annual Report of the Bury, Rochdale and Oldham (BRO) Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) presenting the annual review of CDOP data for BRO. The CDOP reviews all child deaths under 18 years, but not including still births, late foetal loss or termination of pregnancy. The Panel do not determine the cause of death but instead explores all the factors surrounding the death of the child. This learning enables required actions to be taken to protect the welfare of children and prevent future deaths.

Each CDOP collates information on the cases that have been closed in the last 12 months in order to review for themes. This enables each area to identify any lessons learnt and recognise where population level interventions are required to reduce future child deaths. The BRO CDOP report is supported by a Greater Manchester (GM) report which gives an overview of patterns across all four CDOPs in GM.  In view of the relatively small numbers, and consequent difficulties with data analysis, this can be helpful when analysing for themes.  The Annual Report presented an analysis of data gathered and presented recommendations and actions arising from considerations in the previous year.

The annual report was supported at the meeting by a presentation introduced by Rebecca Fletcher, Consultant in Public Health and Chair of the BRO CDOP 2019/20 and Annie Lowe, Public Health Registrar.  The Report contained a review of the 29 closed cases in Oldham, Rochdale and Bury and Data collected between 1^st April 2019 -31^st March 2020.  Highlighted report findings were that

·         66% of closed cases were expected deaths;

·         69% of closed cases occurred in a hospital setting;

·         34% of closed cases occurred in the neonatal period; and

·         58% of closed cases occurred in the first year of life,

with identified themes of prematurity, gender, deprivation and ethnicity being further considered.  Modifiable risk factors associated with child deaths, such as maternal obesity and smoking were considered, along with interventions seeking to modify such behaviours and risk.

The Annual Report recommendations were summarised to the Board as

·         giving consideration to other factors such as maternal age and breastfeeding;

·         ensuring that data is recorded for unbooked pregnancy and concealed pregnancy;

·         recognising that maternal obesity is a growing concern, and ensuring that is recorded in child deaths under 1 year;

·         acknowledging and addressing that children living in deprived neighbourhoods or of BME ethnicity are over-represented in child deaths; and

·         disseminating the report to the relevant departments within the health and wellbeing partnership to ensure shared learning.

 In response to a query regarding actions that had been and were being undertaken to address key factors of ethnicity and deprivation, it was reported that advice was given through health visitors and midwifery services and that work was being undertaken to ensure services are appropriate and accessible, the aim being to make the wider sector aware of these issues.  Further comment was made as to the impact of domestic violence which may lead to severe accidents and life threatening injuries and to the difficulties families are facing at this time.  The Board was advised that work was currently going ahead to improve offers to families, with parenting advice and advice being given for people struggling with domestic violence.

Further matters raised regarding promotion of Healthy Start Vouchers in support of healthy diets and work with the Communications Team to develop the CDOP Annual Report in a more ‘user friendly’ format to aid dissemination would be pursued.

RESOLVED that the Oldham Rochdale and Bury Child Death Overview Panel Annual Report 2019/20 be received and noted, and the recommendations contained therein be supported.