MP pledges support for charity campaign asking: Why do 17 babies die every day in the UK

Jim Dobbin at the special parliamentary reception to launch the Why 17? campaign.

Heywood and Middleton MP,Jim Dobbin has attended a special parliamentary reception to launch the Why 17? campaign, which asks the question, ‘Why do 17 babies die every single day in the UK?’

Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, held the reception at the House of Commons last week to raise awareness of the fact that every hour and a half in the UK a baby is stillborn or dies shortly after birth. That is 17 babies every day. There are strong indications that significant numbers of these 17 deaths could be avoided and babies’ lives saved.

At the event, Mr Dobbin was presented with Sands’ new report, Saving Babies’ Lives Report 2009 which, backed up by new research, highlights several problem areas that are contributing to this level of baby loss, the long-lasting impact of these deaths, and recommends changes that could save babies’ lives.

Mr Dobbin pledged his support for the Sands campaign. He said: “I was shocked to discover that there are 6,500 stillbirth and neonatal deaths every year in the UK, and that many families in my local constituency will have experienced the tragic loss of a baby in this way.

"The new Saving Babies’ Lives Report clearly outlines the key issues, problem areas and recommendations for change, and I am fully committed to supporting Sands in their call for action now to make a difference so more lives can be saved in the future."

Neal Long, Chief Executive of Sands said: “For too long these deaths have been ignored and yet here is compelling evidence to suggest that many babies’ lives could be saved with better antenatal care, increased funding for maternity services, more midwives and increased funding for research. We want to see action now to save babies’ lives.”