Dozens more children ‘severely’ harmed by care failures

Dozens more children than initially thought have come to “severe” harm following failings in audiology care, HSJ can reveal.

Two more trusts have confirmed that, between them, 30 children suffered severe harm – which is defined as ”permanent or long-term harm” – after the failings.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Foundation Trust said an external investigation had revealed 14 such cases, while Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust found 16 more after going through the same process.

A total of 36 confirmed or suspected severe harm cases from paediatric audiology failings across six English trusts are now known about. I

NHS England wrote to all 42 integrated care boards at the end of August, asking them to ensure the “approximately” 130 paediatric hearing services in England were running safely.

Sir David Sloman, then-chief operating officer, and Dame Sue Hill, chief science officer, said the NHSE “review of these trusts has identified root causes that have led to poor service delivery and outcomes… [which include] lack of clinical governance and oversight, poor reporting of data, poor interpretation of results, poor retention of diagnostic data, and lack of accreditation.”

The National Deaf Children’s Society called the speed of the NHS’s response “a scandal”.

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Source: HSJ, 19 September 2023