Baby ‘Not Given Protection She Deserved’
A Serious Case Review into the death of a three week old baby in Northumberland has found significant failings from a number of agencies.
A Serious Case Review into the death of a three week old baby in Northumberland has found significant failings from a number of agencies.
But because no cause of death has been ascertained no one factor could have predicted her death.
Baby Eve died in March 2013 she had a recent large bruise to the top of her head, skull fracture and haemorrhage to her lungs and spine.
Her mum admitted two counts of neglect in 2014.
Eve was born into a family where two children were already on child protection orders.
Her mum had taken drugs during pregnancy, so Eve was born suffering from withdrawal and was on morphine.
Three weeks after she was born, Eve was found dead at home with her mum.
A Serious Case Review has found agencies such as police, health services, children’s services didn’t work together efficiently.
It has made 16 recommendations including around communication, training and how information is recorded and analysed.
Northumberland Safeguarding Children Board said they will continue to improve.
Independent Chair of the LSCB, Paula Mead said: “Baby Eve’s death was tragic and collectively, we regret that there were several areas where agencies could, and should have done better.
“With hindsight, there were a number of occasions in the months immediately before Baby Eve’s birth, and earlier during her mother’s pregnancy when professionals in a number of agencies could have acted differently and worked more effectively together.
“While we cannot say that if they had done so, Baby Eve’s death would have been avoided, we can say that many of our agencies could and should have responded more proficiently and had much better processes in place.”
Ms Mead added: “While there were 16 recommendations, the LSCB has been developing a comprehensive action plan to make sure all actions are either completed or underway.
“We recognise that we need to keep on working effectively with each other to support families and to protect young people from harm as far as we’re able. The public can be reassured we will continue to rigorously enforce the learning from this SCR to ensure similar errors are not repeated.”