Read our progress report for February 2024, to find out what we’ve been working on and what’s coming up.
National hub data report
It is now two years since the National Hub implemented new arrangements for reviewing child deaths. We published an overview of learning from Year 1, last year. We are currently finalising our first full data report which is due to be published in February 2024.
National child mortality database
The National Child Mortality Database in England has published its data release for 2023. It found the number of deaths increased by 8% on the previous year. This was the highest number of deaths in a year since NCMD started data collection in 2019. Sadly, there are negative trends around the deaths of:
- children of black or black British, Asian or Asian British ethnicity and
- those from more deprived areas.
We will take account of this, and wider UK findings in our first data report.
National Hub core review dataset overview
Between 1 October 2021 and 31 March 2023 there were 461 child deaths. This included a small number of deaths of young people over the age of 18 years who met the criteria for the National Hub programme.
40% of children and young people who died had their reviews completed by NHS boards/local authorities. Many more reviews are in progress. We found that the deaths of children and young people that may not have been reviewed before, are now. The review looks at the circumstances of their lives and deaths. More information will follow in our National Hub data report.
We know that there is a climate of competing priorities and workforce challenges. NHS boards, local authorities and their partners are working hard to prioritise this work. If you are experiencing difficulties in completing reviews and core review datasets, please let us know. Contact us at his.cdrnationalhub@nhs.scot
Publications and events
We published an information booklet for bereaved families last summer. It explains what to expect from the child death review process and the role of the key contact.
Weco-hosted with our third sector partners, a learning event called ‘What Matters to Families –engaging and involving families in the child death review process’ on 27 November. The event was well attended, with 93 participants joining us from a range of services. Presentation slides and a recording of the webinar are now available on the National Hub Community of Practice (CoP). Those involved in reviewing child deaths are welcome to register and join the CoP.
We presented our work at the Scottish Paediatric Society annual conference. This is a joint event with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). The poster presentation abstract from RCPCH 2023 was published.
For information:
The Scottish Government has published revised guidance. It clarifies the roles and responsibilities of agencies. This is specifically in relation to the notification requirements under regulation 6 of the 2009 Regulations on the death of looked after children. Both the Care Inspectorate and The National Hub are mentioned throughout.
Ongoing engagement
We continue to work with colleagues across the four UK nations. We share learning and consider ways to align aspects of our work. Examples of this include:
- child death reviews across devolved nation’s borders
- overseas deaths and aligning datasets to enable UK wide comparisons
We are currently adapting UK guidance on overseas deaths to reflect the Scottish context.
The Hub, together with colleagues from Public Health Scotland (PHS), contributed to the Public Health Wales led, rapid report of deaths due to invasive Group A Streptococcus. This will publish imminently. The executive report and recommendations were distributed to lead clinicians recently.
Continuing data analysis and improvements
We are linking closely with PHS and Healthcare Improvement Scotland data analysts to scrutinise the National Records of Scotland quarterly data. We are looking to detect trends and identify any areas for concern, especially in relation to infant deaths.
We are linking this to ongoing work with Scottish Government and COPFS. It aims to highlight preventable factors in unexpected deaths in infancy. The work will use the existing safer sleep guidance and resources. These are about to be refreshed. Safer sleep for babies – Maternal and child health
Contact us
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us. Our email is his.cdrnationalhub@nhs.scot. Visit our National Hub website.