Written question asked by Jim Dobbin (Labour) on Monday, 1 September 2014, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 4 September 2014 (named day). It was answered by Dan Poulter (Conservative) on Thursday, 4 September 2014 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Childbirth

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of changes in the survival rate of babies born before 24 weeks gestation; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

The latest data published by the Office for National Statistics in October 2013 shows that very few live births occur before 24 weeks gestation. Infant mortality rates for babies born this early remain extremely high. For babies born in 2011, 1 in 1000 of live births occurred at less than 24 weeks; the infant mortality rate for these babies was 894.7 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Data from the Epicure series of studies of survival and later health among babies and young people who were born at extremely low gestations found there was no difference in the ongoing illnesses or complications affecting surviving babies born between 22 and 25 weeks gestation in 1995 and 2006. High levels of disability were present at 6 years of age in surviving children born before 24 weeks, including cerebral palsy, low cognitive scores, mobility problems, blindness or profound hearing loss.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 207752
Session: 2014-15
Subjects: Childbirth
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Childbirth

Secondary information

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