Brandon-Robert Collins-Hayward
1 Dec 2020 · Coroner Rachael Griffin · Dorset
The coroner's concerns
1. lack of national guidance for postnatal observations
“Evidence was given at the Inquest that there is no guidance nationally for such checks to be undertaken but following a review by University Hospital Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (UHD) who provided the postnatal care to mother and baby, they have reviewed their local policy to ensure these observations are taken in the early days following birth to ensure their wellbeing”
2. lack of national guidance for medical assessment of baby when mother has infection
“I am concerned that due to the lack of national guidance regarding close monitoring of mothers and babies following discharge after birth, and the fact that there is no national guidance for a medical assessment of a baby when the mother is admitted to hospital”
3. inadequate post‑natal care guidance for 10‑day period and sepsis risk
“I would therefore request there is a review of the guidance in place for post-natal care following the discharge from hospital in the immediate time following the birth, namely 10 days and a review of the national guidance in place when a mother is admitted to hospital within 28 days of birth, especially when diagnosed with infection and at high risk of developing sepsis”
Responses
2021-0088-Response-from-National-Institute-for-Health-and-Care-Excellence.pdf ↗· Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and National Institute of Clinical Excellence
2021-0088-Responses-Redacted.pdf ↗· Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Stated action · later this year
“We consider that there are 2 NICE guidelines of relevance. NICE has published a clinical guideline on postnatal care up to 8 weeks after birth (CG37). This guideline covers the routine postnatal care that women and their babies should receive for 6-8 weeks after the birth. It includes advice given on breastfeeding, and the management of common and serious health problems in women and their babies after the birth. This guideline is currently in the process of being updated.”