Failings found in baby death case

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A couple were able to conceal injuries they inflicted on their baby son because of failures by health care professionals, a report has found.

Stacey Taylor and Mark Harrison's son, Jack, died of pneumonia at Tameside General Hospital in November 2006.

The couple of Hyde, Greater Manchester, were jailed for cruelty after Jack was found to have suffered fractures.

Tameside Council's review of the six-month-old's death found professionals had not shared fears about his parents.

Taylor, 20, and Harrison, 27, of Chapel Court, denied any knowledge of the injuries their son had sustained but were convicted in December.

Sheffield Crown Court heard that a pathologist discovered several fractures and bruising on his body, some sustained up to 48 hours before he died.

'Neglect evidence'

A serious case review was carried out by the Tameside safeguarding children board after it became clear that Jack, who was not subject to child protection measures, had suffered abuse.

The results were published on Wednesday and its recommendations are being adopted by the relevant authorities.

Harrison and Taylor denied any knowledge of Jack's injuries

The report found "failings in how professionals involved with the family shared information, failed to identify indicators of neglect and were obstructed in their contact" with Jack.

Although some professionals had some concerns about his welfare those fears were not referred to social workers.

"It is probable that if the information had been shared then different decisions would have been taken to be more assertive about contact and monitoring," the report said.

The fact Jack was admitted to hospital about a month before his death "should have been recognised as evidence of neglect," it added.

Bruising had also been identified on a previous occasion but the parents' explanation was accepted as plausible. None of the fractures had previously been noted.

The safeguarding children board report made 12 recommendations for ensuring more thorough checks in future.

They included the recommendation that agencies must ensure all professionals were aware of their responsibilities to act on concerns about children and how they communicate those concerns.

It also said agencies should have explicit policies about what action needs to be taken in the event parents miss an appointment, ignore phone calls or deny access.