Scottish Authorities Launch Investigation Into Unexplained Newborn Baby Deaths

A UK NHS hospital ward in an undated file photo. Peter Byrne/PA

The Scottish Government has ordered a review into two mystery surges in deaths of newborn babies that happened over a six-month period.

On Friday, the Scottish Government announced that it had commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland to lead a wider inquiry into increased neonatal death rates, which are at their highest in a decade (pdf).

According to numbers published by Public Health Scotland (PHS), there were a higher than expected number of deaths in both September 2021 and March 2022, which caused the mortality rate to surpass a set threshold.

At least 21 babies died in September 2021, and at least 18 babies under 4 weeks old died in March 2022.

According to healthandcare.scot, the rates of neonatal mortality rate in September 2021 and March 2022 were 4.9 and 4.6 per 1,000 live births, respectively. Neonatal mortality refers to deaths in the first four weeks of life.

Initial findings in September 2021 from a preliminary investigation discounted a link to COVID-19 infection.

In May, Sarah Stock, an expert in maternal and fetal medicine at Edinburgh University who led a study regarding COVID-19 and pregnancies in Scotland, told The Herald that “the numbers are really troubling,” noting that officials don’t know the cause yet.

“What we do know is that it’s not neonatal COVID … the rates of COVID-19 infection in babies are very low and deaths from COVID are thankfully very, very small, so this isn’t COVID affecting babies,” Stock said at the time.

‘2 Very Clear Spikes’

The review will consider the systems, processes, and governance for the delivery of neonatal care which are relevant to the review scope. It is expected to take no longer than six to nine months once the review team is formed.

Diagnostic pathologist Dr. Clare Craig told The Epoch Times that there were “two very clear spikes in that data” and the timing for those spikes is concerning because that is when COVID-19 vaccinations were promoted.

“But they need to investigate it. You just can’t make that assumption,” she cautioned, adding that the total number of neonatal mortality deaths should be easy to investigate.

Craig is part of the Health Advisory and Recovery Team, a group of experts who are sceptical about the policy and guidance relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement accompanying the Scottish Government’s announcement, Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “Every death is a tragedy for the families involved. That is why earlier this year I committed to this review to find out if there is a reason for the increase.

“I appreciate how difficult this time is for anyone affected and I would encourage them to access support if they wish to do so,” she added.

“There is information about organisations and help available on the National Bereavement Care Pathways Scotland as well as the Scottish Government website,” said Todd.

PA Media and Jack Phillips contributed to this report.