AQW 29174/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 24/06/2025
Answered On Date: 07/07/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether his Department plans to introduce formal targets to reduce stillbirth, neonatal death, and extended perinatal mortality in line with other UK regions.

Answer:

There are currently no plans to introduce formal targets to reduce stillbirth, neonatal death, and extended perinatal mortality in NI.

As you will be aware, there is a focus via the adaption of the Savings Babies Lives care bundles version 3 developed by NHS England, to reduce stillbirths and neonatal deaths by improving the health of pregnant women and identifying areas of care where there is evidence or best practice aimed at reducing perinatal mortality.

The care bundle consists of 5 elements:

Element 1: smoking cessation

Element 2: fetal growth restriction

Element 3: reduced fetal movements

Element 4: fetal monitoring

Element 5: prevention of preterm birth.

All stillbirth, neonatal death, and extended perinatal mortality rates in NI continue to be reported via the MBRRACE- UK perinatal programme. The programme conducts national surveillance of all eligible late fetal losses, stillbirths and neonatal deaths in the UK. It also conducts confidential enquiries on selected topics related to perinatal mortality and serious infant morbidity.