MP John Pugh welcomes NHS enquiry into death of Southport baby Oskar Klosowski

MP John Pugh has welcomed an NHS inquiry into the death of a baby boy from Sefton.

The Regional Health Authority has decided to look into the circumstances surrounding the death of four-day-old Oskar Klosowski after he was driven past his nearest hospital in Southport on to Ormskirk in search of vital treatment.

The investigation will also cover the understanding and application of emergency procedures by hospital and ambulance authorities and will be separate from the Coroner's inquiry.

Dr Pugh said: “This is a welcome move as Sefton NHS is independent of the hospital and the ambulance service. When I spoke with the Regional Health Authority they made it clear they too wanted this independence.There is a paramount need to ensure that patient safety and only patient safety determines and shapes decisions at any time of the day or night. Sefton NHS must have access to all tapes of telephone calls and logs made on the night.

"I will be asking the inquiry to establish whether the A&E department in Southport have to up to date training and skills in infant resuscitation. The hospital is obliged to ensure this and must be capable of stabilising any child that arrives, however they get there. The public need to know that these important skills are there in Southport. There can be no turning away of children from Southport hospital where lives may be at stake and everyone within and without the NHS has to get that message.If the inquiry establishes that loud and clear it will have done us all a service.”

Pressure has been mounting to bring back the children’s A&E department at Southport hospital following the death of baby Oskar. Children’s services were moved from Southport to Ormskirk hospital in June 2003 in a shake-up aimed at improving hospital care. Shortly afterwards, adult services were moved from Ormskirk to Southport.

Source: Formby Times