Investigation into infant deaths

Mothers with complications have to travel to another town

Health officials have ordered an investigation after newborn deaths and stillbirths in Inverclyde almost tripled in two years.

The increase came as maternity services were downgraded in the area.

The Scottish Stillbirth and Infant Death Survey (SSIDS) said the rise was being taken very seriously.

A spokeswoman for Argyll and Clyde NHS said: "We have not found any evidence to date of a trend that would explain an increase in perinatal mortality."

Director of Nursing Cathy MacGillivray went on: "We will, however, continue to monitor and examine all perinatal deaths and look for any possible trends.

"Cases are individually presented, discussed and reviewed to determine if there are any avoidable factors to inform future management of pregnancies."

The Rankin Maternity Unit was closed in October 2003, leaving the town with a midwife-led centre for low-risk births.

The unit, at the Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock, had a full consultant-led service before the cuts were imposed.

Patients who cannot be treated at the hospital are instead sent to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, where all consultant services for Argyll and Clyde are now concentrated.

It's absolutely essential that we get to the bottom of the matter Duncan McNeil MSP

Provisional statistics from the General Registrar for Scotland suggest the number of premature deaths rose from 6.3 per 1,000 deliveries in 2002 to 15.1 in 2003 and then 18.7 in 2004.

The SSIDS, which will conduct the inquiry, said the figures were "significantly above" the national average.

Its medical director Dr Gillian Penney, a consultant obstetrician, said the investigation was "above and beyond" the routine survey.

She added: "The detailed information to be published in our report helps to distinguish those perinatal deaths which are unavoidable from those which may be related to quality of care.

"The suggestion of an upward trend has not been dismissed or ignored."

Dr Penney continued: "Time-trends and differences among health board areas are routinely examined and any worrying variations are explored and acted upon."

'Chance variation'

The investigation has been welcomed by the area's Labour MSP, Duncan McNeil.

He said: "Of course they worry me. And they obviously worry mothers and families in the community of Inverclyde, who deserve nothing less than a thorough investigation into the circumstances of these figures.

"There may be many reasons for this increase in perinatal deaths, but it's absolutely essential that we get to the bottom of the matter."

Consultant services will be centralised in Paisley

He added: "I'm concerned that there's not enough monitoring taking place after the changes to ensure that the planning assumptions, to assess the impact, or to assess the outcomes of the change on patients."

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said: "It is important that we understand why this rise has occurred.

"We are satisfied that NHS Argyll and Clyde will take all steps necessary to review these cases to determine action needed."

She added: "We acknowledge what appears to be a rise in the rates of perinatal death within NHS Argyll and Clyde based on the raw figures published by the Registrar General for Scotland.

"However on initial investigation the increase in rate appears to be consistent with chance variation.

"The public should be re-assured that all perinatal deaths in Scotland are subject to detailed scrutiny on a continuous basis."