Dad's frustration over stillbirth report delay

"A couple whose son was stillborn have criticised health bosses for taking a year and a half to release a report about stillbirth rates in the Black Country. Thomas and Ewa Hender say they asked the Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) to release details in April, when they first became aware of the report. It was actually completed 18 months ago, but it has only recently been released in full - a "worrying" delay, Mr Hender said."

"It concentrated on six months from March to September 2023 and found there were 51 stillbirths reported. The review looked at 40 of them. It found 78% of the mums were from deprived areas. In addition, 70% were from black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds, with more than half - 50.5% - of a south Asian ethnicity. Fourteen of the women did not speak English as their first language and, the report recorded, interpreting was not used consistently in seven of those cases."

Neonatal deaths and stillbirths across the Black Country have risen since 2020, with stillbirths increasing more significantly. The review examined four NHS trusts—Sandwell and West Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall, and Dudley—and focused on March to September 2023, during which 51 stillbirths were reported and 40 investigated. Seventy-eight percent of mothers were from deprived areas; 70% were from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds, with 50.5% South Asian. Fourteen women did not speak English as a first language and interpreting was not used consistently in seven cases. A couple who experienced a stillbirth criticised an 18-month delay in releasing the review; the ICB said recommendations were made and maternity care progress would be monitored.

Read at www.bbc.com