PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Health Services: Children (18 November 2014)

Deaths in infants, children and young people are falling, but not as fast as in comparable countries. The Government is tackling this. In 2013 we issued a system-wide pledge, signed by all major health organisations to deliver the system-wide change needed to improve health outcomes for children and young people, and reduce preventable child deaths.

We set up an independent group of experts, the Children and Young People’s Health Outcomes Forum, to advise and challenge us on what we must do to improve children’s health. We have taken action based on their advice to improving prevention, early intervention and healthcare to improving health outcomes for children and young people.

The Department is working with a range of key partners, including NHS England, Public Health England, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives, on a programme of work to reduce stillbirths and neonatal deaths. This includes raising awareness of the known risk factors, improving identification of babies at risk and improving perinatal reviews.