What follows are details of what appears to be a desperately tragic case. Our sincerest thoughts are with the family and friends of the baby who it was claimed died last October.
Because of the obvious sensitivity of this incident, we’ve taken the unusual decision to not open the article for comments.
Readers may remember that when the recent damning Ofsted report on child protection was discussed at full council, Cllr Barry Abraham stated that there had been no child deaths on the Isle of Wight.
During the discussion about the report he said, “as serious as this has been, there have been no child deaths on the Isle of Wight and I think that has to be borne in mind. I think that is the most important thing here.”
Abraham questioned over ‘no child deaths’
At last night’s (Tuesday) Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel meeting, Independent councillor for Ventnor East, Chris Welsford, questioned the statement made by Cllr Abraham at the full council meeting, asking whether it was true that he could claim there had been no child deaths.
This question was met with a long pause, but eventually Ian Anderson, Director for Community Wellbeing and Social Care, started to reply, “it’s a difficult one because Cllr Abraham needs to….” he said.
He was interrupted by chair of the meeting Cllr Gary Taylor (voted to chair the meeting due to absence of Cllr Cameron) who said, “I don’t think that is for this panel to answer.”
Welsford: Cabinet member aware of child death
Cllr Welsford went on to say that lead member, Cabinet member for Children’s Service, Dawn Cousins, was aware that a child had died on XX October 2012, just before the Ofsted inspection was carried out in November last year. This was not denied by Cllr Cousins.
“If members are not aware of that then it is extremely regrettable,” he said.
He went on to say that an eleven week old baby had died. He was interrupted again by Cllr Taylor, pushing him to ask a question.
Cllr Welsford asked again, “Was it true what was said at full council and secondly should we as members be informed of such an event in light of the Ofsted report? I am sure that Mr Beynon and Mr Anderson would like to respond to that.”
“No record of a child that had died … with children’s social care”
Ian Anderson replied that he believed Cllr Abraham’s comments were specifically in relation to the cases that were subject to no further action and confirmed that in the cases where no further action was taken, there had been no subsequent child deaths.
(Having reported Cllr Abraham’s previous comments and been present at the meeting, we could find no indication that he was referring to those cases in particular. His comment appeared to be made across the board.)
Carrying on, Mr Anderson added that he’d also received a call from the Ofsted inspector that evening with the same information that Cllr Welsford had mentioned. Having made enquiries, he reported that there was “no record of a child that had died on XX October 2012 who was involved with children’s social care.”
Scrutiny meeting not ‘appropriate’ place to scrutinise
Cllr Welsford requested the opportunity to reply, but was told by the chair of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel, “I don’t think this is the appropriate forum to clarify.”
Protocol after death or serious injury
Before the subject was brought to a close, Chief Executive Steve Beynon detailed the procedure if there is a serious injury to a child or death. He referred to the Child Death Overview Panel, made up of four local children safeguarding boards.
He continued, if a death or serious injury occurs it has to be reported to the chair of the Safeguarding Board and to Ofsted by the agency concerned. “In this case, that would have been health,” he said. Following the report of an incident, Ofsted would take action.
Inquiry conducted by the police
Mr Beynon went on to say, if there is a need for an inquiry, that is conducted by the police. No comment should be made or attention drawn to that until police have determined whether there are suspicious circumstances.
He went on to say that as they (IWC) would be bound by the terms of the Child Death Overview Panel protocol and the safeguarding board protocol, that it would be ‘not appropriate’ for the council to report such a matter until such time it has been declared that it is appropriate to do so, as it may get in the way of any action the police may wish to take.
OnTheWight contacted the police this morning to find out whether they are investigating the death of a baby on XX October 2012. We’ve been informed they are preparing a statement and so will update here when once we receive it.
Update: 14.22 – 7 February
Statement from the the police: “Police can confirm they were called to St Mary’s Hospital, Newport, Isle of Wight in November 2012.
“A ten-week-old child had been pronounced dead at hospital after being taken to St. Mary’s. Next-of-kin were informed. The death is not being treated as suspicious by police. No arrests have been made.
“Police are preparing a file for HM Coroner, who opened an inquest in December 2012. The inquest was adjourned until a date to be fixed.”
Image: John Kratz under CC BY 2.0
