Sharon Keogan demands statutory national child death reviews
Sharon Keogan spoke about the Ombudsman of Children's annual Child Death Review and condemned the Government's inaction. She called for the immediate establishment of a statutory national child death review mechanism to investigate and prevent avoidable child fatalities.
Ombudsman of Children's report
The Ombudsman of Children released their annual Child Death Review, which Sharon Keogan described as harrowing and heartbreaking. She said the document is a strong condemnation of the Government's inaction and a serious call to action.
Case example
Keogan cited a case in which the family of a boy who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while under the care of the child and adolescent mental health services waited for over 10 years for a report that left them with no real answers.
Gaps in current review mechanisms
She argued existing review mechanisms are fragmented, lack the statutory power to compel cooperation and are unable to gather comprehensive data - in effect they may as well not exist. She noted the National Paediatric Mortality Register exists but said it is not sufficient.
International comparison
Keogan pointed to England's Child Death overview panels as an example that has significantly improved understanding of child fatalities and produced targeted interventions that save lives.
Urgent call for statutory mechanism
She urged the Government to act swiftly to establish a statutory national child death review mechanism, highlighting that the report states 1,490 children died unnaturally last year alone and stressing the urgent need to reduce those numbers.
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Thank you, Lanske Hearlach and Leader. Yesterday the Ombudsman of Children released their annual Child Death Review. This document is harrowing and heartbreaking. It serves as a strong condemnation of the Government's inaction and a serious call to action. Currently, when a child dies under tragic and unnatural circumstances, families are left in a state of uncertainty, grappling with grief and unanswered questions. In one case, the family of a boy who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while under the care of the child and adolescent mental health services was forced to wait for over 10 years for a report, which they said left them with no real answers. Our existing review mechanisms are so fragmented that lacking in the statutory power needed to compel cooperation and so unable to gather comprehensive data that they may as well not exist. This is unacceptable. We have seen the benefits of such mechanisms in other countries. In England, their Child Death overview panels have significantly improved understanding of child fatalities and have led to targeted interventions that save lives. In Ireland, we have the National Paediatric Mortality Register, but it is not enough. We need a robust statutory mechanism that can systematically review all child deaths, identify preventable factors, has the powers to obtain the information it needs and can ensure that lessons are learned and applied where necessary. I urge the Government to act swiftly and establish a statutory national child death review mechanism. Their report highlights that 1,490 children died unnaturally last year alone. It is absolutely urgent that we begin the serious work to reduce those numbers. Thank you.
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