Baby found 'emaciated' 19 days after social services closed case
A safeguarding review in Rochdale found that a 19-month-old girl was hospitalized in critical condition due to severe neglect just weeks after social services closed her case. The report highlights systemic failures in monitoring the child's welfare despite clear warning signs.
Why it matters
It exposes critical gaps in child protection services and the potential for fatal consequences when safeguarding protocols fail.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, The 19-month-old girl was less than half the weight a child should be on average for her age
An "incredibly emaciated" and starving baby, covered in sores, was taken to hospital in a critical condition 19 days after social services closed her case, a review has found.
The 19-month-old girl weighed 9.7lb (4.4kg) - less than half the 24lb (11kg) expected for an average child of her age - when she was treated in February 2025.
A Child Safeguarding Practice Review (CSPR) in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, reported the girl was severely dehydrated, had no fatty tissue noted on her body and had "paper-thin skin".
The case was closed despite warnings her mother, who was 17 when the baby was born, was neglecting her daughter and had avoided social workers and health visitors for weeks.
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