Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to tackle the increase in infant mortality identified by the Office for National Statistics from 2.6 neonatal deaths per 1,000 births in 2015 to 2.7 neonatal deaths per 1,000 births in 2016.
MBRRACE-UK is currently undergoing detailed analysis of the recent neonatal death statistics; this includes mortality adjusted in relation to important risk factors e.g. premature birth, congenital anomaly. NHS England will await the results of MBRRACE-UK’s analysis prior to making any new strategic plans relating specifically to the 0.1% increase in neonatal deaths in 2016.
The Department remains committed to our ambition to halve the rates of neonatal and maternal deaths, stillbirths and brain injuries that occur during or soon after birth by 2025. Further information about the measures in place to achieve the ambition can be found here in the National Maternity Safety Strategy: