Sands and Tommy’s collaborate to save babies lives

Outlining recent trends and evidence as well as gaps in current information, the Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit Saving Babies’ Lives Progress Report sets out areas where further work is required to reduce rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth and neonatal death.

Overall, the report paints a concerning picture; not enough progress has been made to reduce rates of pregnancy loss and baby death across the UK, and there is a risk of going backwards. In England the government’s target to halve the number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths by 2025 compared to 2010 levels is not on track, and there is no current target or ambition for reducing baby deaths in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Progress on reducing pregnancy loss and baby death goes hand-in-hand with other issues in maternal and neonatal services, including worsening maternal mortality rates, quality and safety of services, and families’ engagement and satisfaction.

The Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit is committed to working constructively with government and policymakers to secure change that will save more babies’ lives in the future. The report calls for saving babies’ lives and reducing inequalities to become the national policy priorities they deserve to be.

To read the report visit: www.sands.org.uk/joint-policy-unit