New targets for reducing stillbirths and infant deaths announced

The government has announced a new initiative aimed at improving safety surrounding childbirth for parents and infants in England.

A new ambition has been set out to reduce the rate of stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths in England by 50 percent by 2030, with a specific focus on reducing the number of brain injuries occurring during or soon after birth.

Efforts will be made to work with national and international experts to ensure that best practice is applied consistently across the NHS, while maternity services will be asked to come up with initiatives that could be implemented nationwide.

Trusts will receive a share of more than four million pounds of government investment to buy high-tech digital equipment and to provide training for staff already working to improve outcomes.

A further 500,000 pounds will be invested in developing a new system for staff to review and learn from every stillbirth and neonatal death.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "The NHS is already a safe place to give birth, but the death or injury of even one new baby or mum is a devastating tragedy which we must do all we can to prevent."