An independent review into 10 child fatalities has identified fundamental governance and sepsis care failings at an embattled trust, HSJ has discovered.
The news comes just days after it was reported that Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust is facing prosecution, brought by the Care Quality Commission, over the deaths of two young children who had sepsis.
Documents obtained by HSJ under the Freedom of Information Act show an independent review examined the deaths of 10 children between November 2022 and February 2025 across Southend, Basildon, and Broomfield Hospitals.
HSJ understands that the two deaths the trust is facing prosecution over were among the 10 deaths investigated as part of the review. The trust declined to comment.
The documents include a summary of the findings of the independent thematic “deep dive” review, although it does not name the author of the review.
The summary said the review had identified care failures such as delayed recognition and escalation of deteriorating children, and delayed treatment of sepsis.
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Source: HSJ, 21 October 2026
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