Reviewing and learning from the deaths of children and young people in Scotland

Scotland has a higher mortality rate for under 18s than any other Western European country, with over 300 children and young people dying every year. It is estimated that around a quarter of those deaths could be prevented.

Scottish Government requested that Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Care Inspectorate work together to establish a system for reviewing and learning from the circumstances surrounding the deaths of all children and young people in Scotland. Based within the context of a National Hub, the programme aims to:

• ensure that the death of every child in Scotland is subject to a quality review
• improve the experience and engagement with families and carers, and
• channel learning from current review processes across Scotland that could direct action to help reduce preventable deaths.

The new local and national arrangements came into force on 1 October 2021 and will mean that for the first time in Scotland, reviews will be conducted on the deaths of all live born children up to their 18th birthday, or 26th birthday for care leavers who are in receipt of continuing care or aftercare services at the time of their death.

Eat Well Age Well panel discussion event

As part of Malnutrition Awareness Week, Eat Well Age Well are having a panel discussion event with keynote speakers on Wednesday 13 October from 10am – 11.30am.

For more information and to book a place, download the event poster here.