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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 > Health Sciences > 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

Dates:

Date	Event
April 2010	Published

Volume:

Vol.95

Number:

No.4

Number of Pages:

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.