Child Death Reviews (CDR)

CDR includes two interrelated processes that may trigger a serious case review:

• review of all deaths under the age of 18  by the local Child Death Overview Panel led by a designated paediatrician and including healthcare professionals, police and social workers. The panel is accountable to the Chair of the LSCB.
• rapid response by key professionals coming together to enquire into and evaluate every unexpected death of a child. 

Aims of the CDR Process:

• to document and understand the cause of death so parents can come to terms with the death and take steps to prevent the deaths of any other children.
• to identify patterns of deaths in a community so preventable or avoidable hazards can be recognised and reduced.
• to contribute to improved collection of forensic evidence where there might be concerns of maltreatment or other criminal act.

Wessex LMCS would strongly advise all GPs to fully engage in all Child Protection and Child Death Review processes.  

Fuller document with detailed explanations, background and references