UK merges neonatal and maternal care bodies
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The UK's National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has today (April 1 2003) launched the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH), which will be responsible for investigating neonatal, maternal and paediatric deaths and advise the National Health Service on ways of improving care in these areas. The launch comes as the National Audit Office revealed to Clinica that "the vast majority" of the £446m ($700m) negligence claims settled by the NHS in 2001-02 were for childbirth-related problems (see this issue, page X).