Agenda item

The Committee was provided with a report on infant Mortality in Oldham and the actions taken to reduce those deaths.

The Committee was informed that infant mortality was indicative of the health of the whole population, reflecting the state of the wider determinants of health which included socio-economic and environmental conditions within a community. Oldham’s infant mortality rate had been higher than the North West and England rates consistently for over a decade and ranked 19^th most deprived out of 317 Local Authorities in 2019 Indices of Deprivation (IMD) data. Seven Oldham Wards appeared in the bottom 10% nationally and ten wards in the bottom 20%.

The Committee were advised of the key causes that contributed which included congenital abnormalities, babies that were small for their gestational age and extreme preterm births. To combat the prevalence of those causes, the approach of Public Health would be to focus on those women that lived in the poorest areas with work to be done to reduce smoking, unplanned pregnancies, maternal obesity and better engagement with those with maternal disorders such as diabetes. It was noted that in addition to those causes, wider determinants of health were found to be factors identified in deaths of children who lived in poverty which included overcrowding housing, lack of access to interpreting services, and poor maternal health in pregnancy.

The Committee was informed that the Child Death Overview Panel for Oldham, Bury and Rochdale reviewed all child deaths under 18 years, however this did not include still births, late foetal loss or termination of pregnancy. The panel was not there to determine the cause of death, instead explored all the factors surrounding the death of the child. It was noted that in 2019/2020, there were 79 notified cases for Oldham, Bury and Rochdale with 29 of those cases reviewed to determine and factors or learning. From those reviewed, it was identified that children were at the highest risk of death within the first year of life with 34% of cases in the neonatal period and 58% in the first year of life. 35% of deaths were caused by perinatal/neonatal event, being the lead cause of child death locally and nationally. Congenital abnormalities were the second most common cause of death which equated to 18% of closed cases.

Members asked for and received clarification on the following:

·         What work, if separately, was being done for the 18% of child deaths caused by congenital abnormalities. Both NHS services and Greater Manchester had genetic services offering support and advice. Work was also being done alongside the Genetic Outreach Programme.

·         Smoke free pregnancy scheme and if the same work was being done in regard to other drugs and mothers with additional needs. The Committee was advised that continuity of care was important at the Royal Oldham Hospital with many other areas looking at Oldham for guidance. The aim was to do the best they could with all mothers and work was also being done to tackle foetal alcohol syndrome.

·         Infant mortality had a strong connection to the Poverty Task and Finish Group and it was important to home in on prioritising removal of poverty such as English as a first language, housing, jobs and skills and safe sleeping. It was asked if the numbers gotten worse since 2010. It was explained that the areas did tie in together however the wider picture needed to be looked at. There had been a decrease in numbers since 2010, however this was not as steep as other areas. A large decrease was due to the numbers of those smoking quitting during pregnancy.

RESOLVED that the report be noted and a future update on smoking and safe sleeping be reported back to the Committee in 12 months’ time.