Pan Cheshire Child Death Review

The death of any child is a tragedy. It is vital that all child deaths are carefully reviewed. The death of all children under the age of 18 must be reviewed by a Child Death Overview Panel on behalf of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The Child Death Overview Panels are groups of professionals who meet several times a year to review all the child deaths in their area. The Panel is not given the names of any children who died; all the details are dealt with anonymously. The main purpose is to learn how to prevent future deaths.

In a small number of child deaths, the Board may decide it is necessary to conduct a more detailed investigation called a Local Safeguarding Practice review. The Board makes sure any recommendations made by the Panel are sent to those with responsibility for taking them forward. 

The Panels produces an annual report which is a public document. Anyone can read the report, but it contains no details that could identify an individual child or their family.

Pan Cheshire Child Death Overview Panel Annual report 2022-2023 (PDF, 118KB)

The Child Death Review: A guide for parents and carers (PDF, 469KB)

For further information see the following 7 Minute Guides:

• Child Death Overview Panel
• Infant Safe Sleep
• Sudden Unexpected Death of an Infant or Child

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