HEALTH chiefs at the Countess of Chester Hospital have sought to reassure people that its neonatal unit is safe to continue operating.
It comes after news that a female healthcare worker has been arrested on suspicion of murdering eight babies and trying to kill a further six.
Medical Director Ian Harvey said: “We are continuing to support Cheshire Police with their ongoing investigation.
“Asking the police to look into this was not something we did lightly, but we need to do everything we can to understand what has happened here and get the answers we and the families so desperately want.”
He added: “The Countess is now equivalent to a Level 1 Special Care Baby Unit and we are confident the unit is safe to continue in its current form.”
The Countess neonatal unit remains open to women over 32 weeks in their pregnancy.
Women and Children's Building at Countess of Chester Hospital
For further information on ‘levels’ visit www.bliss.org.uk/different-levels-of-care
In May 2017, The Countess of Chester Hospital Foundation Trust contacted Cheshire Constabulary regarding neonatal services at the hospital.
This was in relation to a greater number of baby deaths and ‘collapses’ than normally expected during the period of June 2015 and June 2016.
The hospital also made the Constabulary aware of a number of independent reviews that they had commissioned into these deaths. As a result, Cheshire Constabulary launched an investigation.
A medical collapse is when the patient's breathing and/or heart rate suddenly deteriorates to the point where they are at risk of dying unless doctors or other health professionals take action.
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