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Charity calls for action on 'shocking' scale of baby deaths

18th January 2012 - Tackling the UK's high rate of stillbirths should be an urgent priority, according to a charity. The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity (Sands) says the number of babies which are stillborn or die within a few days of birth is "shocking".

It's launching a new report, 'Preventing Babies’ Deaths: what needs to be done' at a parliamentary reception.

UK baby deaths: 'Persistently high'

Around 6,500 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth in the UK each year and, according to Sands, as many as 1,200 of these could be avoided. The charity says it is concerned that rates of baby deaths in the UK are persistently high compared to other wealthy nations, with one in 200 babies stillborn - a figure little changed since the 1990s.

Neal Long, chief executive of Sands says in a statement: "The scale of baby deaths in the UK is shocking. Seventeen babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth every day, with stillbirth being the largest contributor to child deaths under the age of five years."

Research and improved care

Sands says while there is justifiable concern about preventing the 50 deaths each year from meningitis, the 81 who die as a result of road accidents, or the 400 who die from cot death, the 4,000 stillbirths each year are more or less ignored. It's urging the government to improve survival rates by investing in research and improved care. It says routine antenatal care is failing to detect far too many babies in need of help.

"We want to see real national commitment to tackling this ignored tragedy and preventing all avoidable baby deaths in the future," Neal Long says. "We want lives saved and families spared the desperate heartbreak of losing their precious baby."

The report includes personal stories of parents whose babies have died, describing the long-lasting and devastating impact of stillbirth and newborn baby death. Typical of those affected is Louise McGeechan, mother to Erin, who was stillborn in August 2010, 12 days past her due date. She told the charity: "After Erin died, I got a letter from the hospital and it described all the scans I’d have if I got pregnant again. But it’s too little too late. I wanted Erin. She wasn’t a test run".

Mothers, doctors and midwives are often unaware of the risk of stillbirths, according to Sands, which is calling for improvements to information and medical training. It also wants to see more information collected about stillbirths to aid a better understanding about why babies die.

Reaction

Commenting on the report in an emailed statement, Gail Johnson, education and professional development advisor at the Royal College of Midwives says: "It is important that all practitioners involved in maternity care are aware of the risks associated with stillbirth and that work continues to explore how stillbirth can be reduced. Ensuring that all mothers have access to high quality antenatal care delivered by midwives is the first step towards having a healthy mother and baby at the end of pregnancy. Midwives are in a position to provide women and families with information and support to minimise risks and poor outcomes.