Trust apologises to dozens of families after harm to children

A hospital trust has apologised to families after dozens of children suffered hearing loss following failures in their care.

Croydon Health Services Trust had already revealed three children “may have been at risk of serious hearing loss or a delay to their speech development”, but it has now confirmed to HSJ that a further 49 “incurred mild to moderate hearing loss or impairment”.

The south London trust would not disclose the results of its internal review that begun after it declared a serious incident in March 2021, saying it was “ongoing”, but said it had acted on all the “immediate recommendations”.

The incident was declared after more than 1,400 children were found not to have been followed up by the trust. 

There was also an external review carried out by an audiologist from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust. It is unclear which review uncovered the incidents of harm. 

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Source: HSJ 1 August 2023