BOLTON health bosses have ordered a top level inquiry to find out why Bolton has re-gained its shocking tag as one of the worst places in the whole country for baby deaths. Alarming new statistics reveal Bolton's perinatal mortality rate - the death of babies at birth or soon after - has again crept way beyond the national average despite a massive investment in neo-natal intensive care by the health authority. Now, in response to the figures, Wigan and Bolton Health Authority has demanded an audit from Bolton Hospitals Trust and has set a deadline of just three months for its completion.

In 1992 statistics released by the Office of Population Census and Surveys revealed Bolton's perinatal death rate was 15.9 per 1,000 births. Nationally the figure stood at only 7.9.

Broken down, these figures represented 25 still births

and 31 first week births and led to a massive investment in neo-natal intensive care facilities at Bolton General Hospital's Princess Anne Maternity Unit.

An additional neo-natal cot, additional consultant staff and specialist midwives were brought on to the unit.

In 1993, the perinatal death rate in Bolton was 8.4 per 1,000 - a massive reduction on the previous year's figure. That year the national average for England and Wales was 8.9 per thousand.

Shock figures just released for 1994, however, show Bolton has re-gained the unenviable reputation as a town with one of the highest perinatal death rates in the whole of England and Wales.

The number of deaths last year were 12.9 per 1,000 births, compared with 8.9 per 1,000 across England and Wales. It means there were 32 still births and 13 infant deaths in Bolton - an alarming reversal of the 1992 situation.

"We seem to be looking at a high number of still births as opposed to a high number of deaths within the first week of birth," explained Dr Peter Elton, Consultant in Public Health Medicine with Wigan and Bolton Health Authority.

"This would suggest an obstetrics problem, as opposed to a paediatric one. I have already met with staff in this speciality and certainly they are a dedicated group of individuals and a report into the midwifery care provided on the unit is nothing short of glowing.

"But there's no doubt these figures are of great concern to us and we have already spoken to the hospital and asked for a complete audit. I would envisage this would involve expert, outside input to give us some idea of where we go from here.

"Certainly it's far too early to say at this moment just where the problem lies - if there is one, single problem," he said.

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