§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to take to reduce the rate of perinatal mortality in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe rate of perinatal mortality in Wales has been a cause of concern for a number of years. Although there has been a gradual reduction in the rate per 1,000 live and still births from 24.4 to 14 in the decade since 1971, the rate is both too high in absolute terms and 65W in comparison with those prevailing in England and Scotland. The Welsh Office has consulted the medical and nursing professions in Wales on measures needed to reduce perinatal mortality and has convened a symposium of expert opinion and given detailed consideration, to the recommendations made.
In the light of this advice my right hon. Friend has decided to undertake a specific initiative aimed at improving the quality of maternity care and thereby reducing the causes of perinatal mortality.
One part of this initiative will be the establishment of a small catalyst team comprising a doctor provided from within the Welsh Office and a midwife seconded from the NHS, who will be supported centrally by a sligtly larger survey group. Membership of the survey group is envisaged as two obstetricians, one academic and one service; a paediatrician; a specialist in community medicine and a midwife from the NHS together with a senior nursing officer and a senior medical officer from the Welsh Office. Action to monitor and advise on the improvement of maternity services at the unit level will be taken by the catalyst team, whose work will involve the dual task of reviewing the circumstances of individual perinatal deaths and still births and of working with health authorities in what ever ways are necessary to assist them to develop continuing arrangements for such reviews.
The survey group will have two main functions. Firstly it will supervise the work of the catalyst team, supporting the team in the planning of its work and monitoring its effectiveness. Secondly, it will work with the team to provide an all-Wales perinatal mortality survey.
The other part of the initiative will be the establishment at the national level of a broadly based expert committee to consider and disseminate the Wales perinatal survey group's reports and to advise on the development of maternity services generally. This Wales maternity services forum will comprise representatives of all the interested professional groups and the health authorities.
Table 1 Persons proceeded against for drugs offences by nationality and year United Kingdom Number of persons Nationals of Year Total United Kingdom America (excl. USA and Canada) Europe (excl. UK) Africa Asia USA Canada Australia New Zealand Not recorded 1977 13,658 11,488 598 504 229 271 371 165 32 1978 14,463 12,071 774 592 233 270 381 128 14 1979 15,072 12,380 836 610 269 396 350 152 79 1980 18,130 14,627 1,137 842 438 472 337 165 112 1981 19,081 15,836 1,100 682 511 402 309 131 110 66W
Table 2 Persons found guilty of drugs offences by nationality and year United Kingdom Number of persons Nationals of Year Total United Kingdom America (excl. USA and Canada) Europe (excl. UK) Africa Asia USA Canada Australia New Zealand Not recorded 1977 12,704 10,730 521 476 212 242 338 155 30 1978 13,394 11,174 719 563 212 250 346 117 13 1979 14,054 11,576 743 579 246 371 325 144 70 1980 16,919 13,658 1,037 797 398 444 323 160 102 1981 17,667 14,714 965 642 476 362 288 124 96 The detailed arrangements will now be the subject of consultation with the health authorities and the representative professional bodies. Subject to the comments received the initiative will commence later this year and will continue at the outset for two years. The cost will be met by the Welsh Office.
My right hon. Friend and I hope that this initiative will yield a better standard of care for mothers and their newly born children in Wales through the lessons it will reveal and the advice and support it will offer to those on whom we rely for maternity services.