John Baron MP supports ‘Sands’ call for urgent action to prevent babies’ deaths

John with his constituent Helen Igglesden at the reception

MP and constituent discuss need for action

This week, John Baron MP attended a Parliamentary reception in the House of Commons, organised by Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, for the launch of their new report, Preventing Babies’ Death: what needs to be done. 6,500 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth every year in the UK. The charity’s report proposes that 1,200 babies’ lives could be saved every year through a combination of more research, better care and greater awareness of the risks of stillbirth and newborn baby death. At the reception John met with Mrs Igglesden [a bereaved parent] to discuss the need for action [photograph attached]. John will be pressing the Government on this issue.

John said:

“The scale of baby deaths in the UK is worrying. The UK has one of the highest stillbirth rates when compared to similar high income countries.17 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.”

“These deaths have a devastating impact on parents and their families, and I therefore support Sands in their call for urgent action to reduce baby deaths in the future.”

Helen Igglesden said:

“It was a privilege to meet John at Westminster. It gave us an opportunity to meet and discuss any local issues. After the loss of my daughter Ellise in September 1998, I wanted to help other parents like myself to come to terms with the loss of their babies.”

“I took over the running of the Chelmsford Sands group over ten years ago.  It  saddens me today that 17 babies a day die. This figure has not decreased in the time I have run our local support groups in Billericay and Chelmsford.”

“We hold monthly meetings and offer support to parents, relatives and friends or anyone affected by the loss of a baby. We also support our local hospitals. All three have dedicated bereavement support midwifes.  I do hope we can soon reduce the number of still born and neonatal deaths that are occurring every day.”

Neil Long, Chief Executive of Sands, addressed MPs at the parliamentary reception:

“A third of stillborn babies – around 1,200 babies – are perfectly formed and born at gestations when they might be safely delivered. But routine antenatal care is failing to detect far too many babies who need help. These babies’ deaths are those that Sands, researchers and clinicians working in obstetrics, believe are avoidable deaths.”

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