Government pledges to reduce number of stillbirths

MAMA Academy welcomes the announcement today from Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary, that the government pledges to reduce the number of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths and brain injuries during or soon after labour.  He has said that they are committed to see England become one of the safest places to have a baby and have therefore pledged to see a reduction in these cases by 50% by 2030 (with an initial drop of one fifth by 2020).

It is hoped that this target can be achieved through a number of new initiatives and extra funding, such as:

Trusts will receive a share of over £4 million of government investment to buy high-tech digital equipment and to provide training for staff already working to improve outcomes for mums and babies.

£500,000 will be invested in developing a new system for staff to review and learn from every stillbirth and neonatal death.

£1 million will be invested in rolling out training packages developed in agreement with the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, to make sure staff have the skills and confidence they need to deliver world-leading safe care.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:

“The NHS is already a safe place to give birth, but the death or injury of even one new baby or mum is a devastating tragedy which we must do all we can to prevent.”

Heidi Eldridge, Chairman of MAMA Academy, said:

“We truly welcome this new commitment from the government to reduce stillbirth and neonatal deaths in the UK and we will continue to work in partnership with the Department of Health and NHS England to see this fulfilled. The 2011 Lancet report stated that the majority of stillbirths are potentially preventable. We are involved in the NHS Saving Babies Live Care Bundle and now the government has committed funds to this work, many babies lives can now be saved.

We are also particularly pleased to hear of the proposal of a new system to review the death of a baby as it is essential for trusts to learn from mistakes which may have happened to prevent other parents experiencing similar heartache in the future.”

To read the Department of Health press release see here

Colchester MP Will Quince (whose son was stillborn) responds to this announcement, see video here