Review held into death of baby with complex illness in Lincolnshire

A serious case review into how a five-month old baby from Lincolnshire with complex health needs died has failed to establish a cause.

The Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) reviewed the case of Baby G, who died in January 2014, concluding that his death was “unascertained but natural”.

Baby G was the youngest of three children born to a white British family, the eldest of whom had been the subject of a Child Protection Plan from as early as 2011.

All three children were the subject of Child Protection Plans, in the category of neglect, at the time of Baby G’s death.

The family had moved between local authorities in October and November 2013, leading “an unsettled and chaotic lifestyle”.

The report found that Baby G had failed to thrive and develop normally and at the time of his death he was showing signs of having a degenerative neurological condition.

Throughout his short life and ongoing until his death, he was undergoing a range of medical investigations to obtain a greater understanding of his complex health problems and what appeared to be a life-limiting condition.

However, the condition and its cause remained undiagnosed.

Following his death, the LSCB commissioned a serious case review to identify any potential improvements to services.

The review panel included contributions from senior managers and designated professionals from key statutory agencies from all the areas in which he lived.

Chris Cook, chairman of the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board, said: “This is a tragic case involving a young baby with complex health needs and an undiagnosed medical condition.

“Throughout his short life a full range of medical investigations were in progress for a fuller understanding of his medical condition. Sadly, events overtook this and he died due to his complex health needs.

“A number of agencies were involved with this young child and his family with extensive efforts made to engage and support the young family.

“The report states that medical and child protection processes could have been better joined up which would have led to a greater sharing of information and a more effective approach in dealing with the family.

“This was made more complicated by the family’s frequent moves between Lincolnshire and Telford & Wrekin.

“However, despite this, the death of this young baby couldn’t have been prevented given his complex health needs.”