Promise of action over baby deaths at Kilmarnock hospital
THE Health Secretary has promised bereaved families that improvements will be made following a review into adverse events at a maternity unit where some babies died.
Improvements have been promised at Crosshouse Hospital following the deaths of infants
Shona Robison told Holyrood the “substandard” practices uncovered within NHS Ayrshire and Arran were “unacceptable” as she gave a personal commitment that action would be taken.
The Scottish Government ordered Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) to carry out the review last year after families whose babies died at Ayrshire Maternity Unit spoke out about their experiences.
Between 2008 and March 31 last year, there were four significant adverse event reviews concerning stillbirth deaths at the unit at Crosshouse Hospital, near Kilmarnock.
A BBC investigation found there have been six “unnecessary” deaths of babies at the hospital since 2008.
HIS, which looked at incidents from December 2013 onwards, found the health board’s review process for significant adverse events was not used in the maternity unit and staff were unsure how to respond to an adverse event once it was initially reported.
Shona Robison claimed there were ’substandard’ practices NHS Ayrshire and Arran
I give my personal commitment to the Ayrshire families that action will be taken
Ms Robison told MSPs: “I’ve spoken today to the vice-chair of NHS Ayrshire and Arran and I’ve made it very clear to the board that I view the substandard practices uncovered in these reports as unacceptable. The board has also today published a set of action plans to implement the reports’ recommendations.
“I welcome this response from NHS Ayrshire and Arran and have been clear with the vice chair that I expect these plans to be implemented and evidence of the improvements published.”
Ms Robison said she would meet affected families and offer them a role on an oversight group that will scrutinise improvements in maternity across Scotland, including improved training programmes.
She said: “I give my personal commitment to the Ayrshire families that action will be taken in the light of these findings.”
NHS Ayrshire and Arran has apologised to the families involved
But Conservative MSP Brian Whittle said: “Red flags that should have been noted have been flying for the best part of a decade.” Highlighting previous reviews, he questioned how affected families and staff could “possibly have any faith” the latest report would achieve change.
NHS Ayrshire and Arran has apologised to the families involved and is creating a risk and quality improvement team to focus on adverse event management.
Chief executive John Burns said: “We have confidence in the safety of our maternity services.”