HC Deb 06 July 1990 vol 175 c727W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many infants died from sudden infant death syndrome in Wales in 1989; what was the comparable figure in the previous three years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Grist

Available data on deaths of babies under a year old, resident in Wales, caused by sudden infant death syndrome (ICD code 798.0) for the years 1986–1989 are given in the following table.

The introduction in 1986, in England and Wales, of a separate certificate for neonatal deaths—in the period 28 days after birth—means that it is not appropriate to assign a single underlying cause to such deaths. Consequently, for all infant deaths—in the first year after birth—only a count of the certificates where the syndrome is mentioned can be made, whether the syndrome was the underlying cause of death or not.

Deaths in infants in Wales
(a) in Postneonatal period1 due to ICD 798.0 (b) with 1 year of birth where ICD 798.0 mentioned on death certificate2
1989 63 66
1988 68 78
1987 88 96
1986 66 72

Source: OPCS.

1 Post neonatal period as from 28 days but within 1 year of birth.

2 Includes deaths listed in column (a).

Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to combat sudden infant death syndrome in Wales.

Mr. Grist

The Government announced a major new initiative to reduce infant mortality, including sudden infant deaths, in their response to the Social Services Select Committee report on perinatal, neonatal and infant mortality which was published in July 1989 (Cmnd 741). The review of research relating to sudden infant death syndrome commissioned as part of this initiative will be of benefit to Wales. Also, in line with the initiative's goal to increase capacity to undertake expert post mortem examination of infants who die, action has been put in hand to secure, by central funding, the appointment of a full-time consultant paediatric pathologist at the University hospital of Wales. Pending that appointment, part-time consultant sessions are being funded centrally.