RCM responds to infant mortality report released today by ONS

By RCM on 14 March 2018 RCM Child Mortality Stillbirth Report England Wales Maternity Services ONS Report Infant Mortality

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has today responded to a new report on infant mortality published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Commenting, Gill Walton Chief Executive at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said; “Any increase is a real concern and we must see more steps taken to reverse this.

“The regional variations in rates are worrying. Trusts and regions must look to other areas where there are improvements being made to see why they are not doing as well, and to learn from those areas so that the regional variations are lessened.

“There is no doubt that in areas of high depravation, infant death rates are higher and this is where services need targeted resource.

“There is also a need to tackle some of the biggest factors influencing this including smoking in pregnancy and rising levels of obesity, both of which can have an impact on infant mortality.

“Whilst we cannot make a direct connection between staffing levels, pressures on our maternity systems and infant mortality rates, there is no doubt that an overworked and under-resourced services cannot deliver the safest and highest quality care.”

Read full ONS report: Child mortality in England and Wales - 2016 here.

For further information please contact the RCM Media Relations Team on 020 7312 3456 or email [email protected]

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The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.