Unexplained Fractures in Babies

Roedd y cais yn rhannol lwyddiannus.

Dear Wandsworth Borough Council,

Please could you provide all statistical data you hold broken down year by year, in relation to Care Proceedings which commenced due to unexplained fractures in babies, going back from 2011 to whatever date is reasonable.

I am particularly interested in

1. The age of the child at the time of injury.
2. Name of the Hospital
3. Whether the Fractures had an organic explanation. (If so what was the cause eg. Brittle bones, Vitamin D deficiency etc)
4. Whether the Fractures were recorded as non accidental.
5. Whether a criminal trial ensued.
6. Whether the child was adopted.
7. Whether the child died from the injuries.
8. How many siblings of the injured child were removed from the parents.

I appreciate that it may not be possible to provide all the above listed information however I would be grateful to receive whatever information you have available and signposting towards other organisations who may hold the relevant data.

Yours faithfully,

B McKenzie

Freedom Of Information, Wandsworth Borough Council

Freedom of Information Act request -  2011/5256 - Unexplained Fractures in
Babies

 

Thank you for your request for information received on 07/10/2011.

 

This will be processed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act
2000.

 

Regards

 

Corporate Information Management Team

[Wandsworth Council request email]

020 8871 8119

 

dangos adrannau a ddyfynnir

Freedom Of Information, Wandsworth Borough Council

Freedom of Information Act request - 2011/5256 - Unexplained Fractures in Babies

I refer to your request for information received on 07/10/2011. Please see the response to your request provided by the Children's Services Department below: -

It is necessary for us to try and protect the identities of the families and children involved. Some of the babies will be much older and probably had no other incidents that would have brought them to the attention of the authorities. Because an injury is unexplained, it doesn't mean that something sinister happened to the baby.

For those questions that we believe could lead to the identity of a child or family being discovered, we are applying exemption S30 to protect future proceedings or investigations.

Going back from 2011 to whatever date is reasonable.

Because the numbers of babies are so small, we have had to look back over 12 years to find sufficient numbers to move beyond possible conflict with the DPA and personal information and we confirm that In the last 12 years, there have been 5/6 unexplained injuries in babies.

I am particularly interested in

1. The age of the child at the time of injury.
We are applying exemption S30 due to ongoing investigations and proceedings. The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

2. Name of the Hospital
St Georges hospital

3. Whether the Fractures had an organic explanation. (If so what was the cause eg. Brittle bones, Vitamin D deficiency etc)
Information not held

4. Whether the Fractures were recorded as non-accidental.
As above see Q1

5. Whether a criminal trial ensued.
As above see Q1

6. Whether the child was adopted.
As above see Q1

7. Whether the child died from the injuries.
One child died from injuries, but not known if these injuries were fractures

8. How many siblings of the injured child were removed from the parents.
As above see Q1

I hope this information meets your needs. If you do not understand the information provided or wish to discuss anything further, please feel free to contact me and I, or another member of the team will be able to assist you.

Please note, all material provided by Wandsworth Council in response to your request for information is for your personal, non-commercial use. Wandsworth Council reserves all rights in the copyright of the information provided. Any unauthorised copying or adaptation of the information without express written confirmation from Wandsworth Council may constitute an infringement of copyright. Any intention to re-use this information commercially may require consent. Please forward any requests for re-use of information to the FOI officer.

If you are dissatisfied with the information provided in relation to your request you may make representations to the Chief Executive. Correspondence should be addressed to:

Room 162, Wandsworth Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street, London, SW18 2PU

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

Regards

James De Cort
Information Management Officer
[Wandsworth Council request email]

dangos adrannau a ddyfynnir