It is a legal requirement that all deaths of children, from any cause, occurring from birth until their 18th birthday, undergo a systematic review to identify modifiable factors and important learning which can be utilised to prevent future deaths.

From October 2019, Birmingham City Council and NHS Birmingham and Solihull (formerly NHS Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group), assumed the statutory responsibility for the review of all child deaths in Birmingham. NHS Birmingham and Solihull also assumed a statutory responsibility for child deaths in Solihull from April 2021.

The 2022-2023 annual report of the Child Death Review team and Child Death Overview Panel is available to view and download, if you would like to learn more.

The national framework for the revised child death arrangements are set out in statutory guidance.

The statutory and operational guidance sets out key features of what a good child death review process should look like. This process combines best practice with statutory requirements that must be followed.

A Sudden and Unexpected Death in Infancy/Childhood (SUDIC) paediatrician is available 24/7, 365 days a year via Birmingham Children's Hospital’s switchboard: 0121 333 9999.

Birmingham and Solihull Multi-Agency Guidance for Joint Agency Response to Sudden and Unexpected Death in Infancy or Childhood (2024)

The office hours for NHS Birmingham and Solihull's Child Death Review (CDR) team are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

For any queries, please contact the CDR team via e-mail at nhsbsolicb.childdeathreview@nhs.net.

The Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) co-ordinator can be contacted on 0758 510 4611.

If you have any concerns about sending information securely or wish to discuss a child death notification, please contact the lead nurses listed below.

Title Name Contact number
Designated doctor Joanna Garstang

0758 510 4611 (Contact Melisha McKenzie and ask to speak to Joanna)
Designated nurse Sarah Ashburn 0773 963 1561
Designated nurse Sue Cope 0738 871 4171
Deputy designated nurse Bea Jones 0771 753 9923
CDOP co-ordinator Melisha McKenzie 0758 510 4611
CDR team administrator Joanne Fox 0784 505 5269
CDR team administrator Helen Foster 0777 546 9535

 

Each unexpected death of a child is a tragedy for his or her family. Below are some helpful links to other organisations that may be able to offer support, further information and advice.

Name Website Contact information Address
The Lullaby Trust www.lullabytrust.org.uk    
Edwards Trust www.edwardstrust.org.uk    
Cruse Bereavement Care www.cruse.org.uk    
Child Bereavement www.childbereavement.org.uk 0800 02 888 40  
Asian Community Advisory Centre   0121 753 2407 487 Green Lane, Birmingham, West Midlands, B9 5PR
Asian Resource Centre www.asianresource.org.uk 0121 523 0580 10 Hamstead Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, B20 2QS
Beyond the Horizons www.beyondthehorizon.org.uk    

 

To report a child death in Birmingham and Solihull, please visit: https://www.ecdop.co.uk/BirminghamAndSolihull/Live/Public

Sharing learning from serious cases and joint audit activity is key to improving safeguarding practice. Our colleagues at the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership have published learning lessons, which are are available to download on the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership website.

These short summaries provide the background of the case, identify key learning and hightlight areas for practice improvement.

Newsletters

Child death arrangements

Terms of reference

Support and advice for the bereaved

Useful resources