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Responding to unexpected infant deaths : experience in one English region

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Sidebotham, Peter, Blair, Peter S., Evason-Coombe, Carol, Edmond, Margaret, Heckstall-Smith, Ellen M. A. and Fleming, Peter J.. (2010) Responding to unexpected infant deaths : experience in one English region. Archives of Disease in Childhood, Vol.95 (No.4). pp. 291-295. ISSN 0003-9888

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.2009.167619

Abstract

New national procedures for responding to the unexpected death of a child in England
require a joint agency approach to investigate each death and support the bereaved
family. As part of a wider population-based study of sudden unexpected deaths in
infancy (SUDI) we evaluated the implementation of this approach.
Methods: A process evaluation using a population-based study of all unexpected
deaths from birth to 2 years in the South West of England between January 2003 and
December 2006. Local police and health professionals followed a standardised
approach to the investigation of each death, supported by the research team set up to
facilitate this joint approach as well as collect data for a wider research project.
Results: We were notified of 155/157 SUDI, with a median time to notification of 2
hours. Initial multi-agency discussions took place in 93.5% of cases. A joint home
visit by police officers with health professionals was carried out in 117 cases, 75%
within 24 hours of the death. Time to notification and interview reduced during the 4
years of the study. Autopsies were conducted on all cases, the median time to autopsy
being 3 days. At the conclusion of the investigation, a local multi-agency case
discussion was held in 88% of cases. The median time for the whole process
(including family support) was 5 months.
Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that with appropriate protocols and
support, the joint agency approach to the investigation of unexpected infant deaths
can be successfully implemented.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Mental Health and Wellbeing Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Infants -- Death, Death -- Causes, Sudden infant death syndrome, Sudden death in children, Bereavement -- Great Britain
Journal or Publication Title:	Archives of Disease in Childhood
Publisher:	BMJ Group
ISSN:	0003-9888
Official Date:	April 2010
Volume:	Vol.95
Number:	No.4
Number of Pages:	5
Page Range:	pp. 291-295
Identification Number:	10.1136/adc.2009.167619
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (Great Britain), Babes in Arms, Charitable Trusts of University Hospitals Bristol
References:	1. HM Government. Working Together to Safeguard Children. In: Department for Education and Skills, editor. London: DfES; 2006. 2. Sidebotham P, Pearson G. Responding to and learning from childhood deaths. BMJ 2009;338:b531. 3. RCPath, RCPCH. Sudden unexpected death in infancy: A multi-agency protocol for care and investigation. London: Royal College of Pathologists, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health; 2004. 4. Livesey A. A multiagency protocol for responding to sudden unexpected death in infancy: descriptive study. BMJ 2005 Jan 29;330(7485):227-8. 5. Fleming PJ, Blair PS, Sidebotham PD, Hayler T. Investigating sudden unexpected deaths in infancy and childhood and caring for bereaved families: an integrated multiagency approach. BMJ 2004 Feb 7;328(7435):331-4. 6. Fleming P, Sidebotham P, Evason-Coombe C, Edmonds M, Heckstall-Smith E, Blair P. Case-control study of SIDS in Southwest England - hazardous co-sleeping environments and risk factors amenable to change. BMJ In Press. 7. Fleming P, Blair P, Bacon C, Berry P. Sudden unexpected deaths in infancy. The CESDI SUDI Studies 1993-1996. London: The Stationery Office; 2000. 8. Sidebotham P, Fleming P. Responding to Unexpected Child Deaths. In: Sidebotham P, Fleming P, editors. Unexpected death in childhood: a handbook for practitioners. Chichester: Wiley; 2007. p. 97-131.
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/4137