§ Mrs. CurrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice is now given to parents on the avoidance of cot deaths; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what progress is being made in reducing the incidence of cot deaths.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe rate of cot death has been coming down over recent years, from 2.35 per 1,000 live births in 1988 to 1.81 in 1990. We welcome this reduction, and hope to see a further reduction following the advice
682Whospital facilities which may or may not be supplemented by specialist or single specialty hospitals. The available relevant information is given in the table.
contained in a press release issued by the Government's chief medical officer on 31 October. The press release was widely taken up in the national press.
The advice that is now given to parents is that the risk of cot death can be reduced if babies are not placed on their tummies when they are going to sleep. This advice is based on the recommendations of a group of experts set up by the chief medical officer to advise him on the results of several recent studies carried out in this country and abroad.
The chief medical officer took the opportunity to reiterate advice which had been offered previously: to keep babies warm, but avoid overheating; to avoid tobacco smoke; and to ensure good ventilation and to follow good hygiene.
The Health Education Authority is ensuring that this advice is incorporated in the text of its publications the "Pregnancy Book" and "Birth to Five", copies of which are distributed to first-time mothers and parents. All health professionals are being sent a letter from the chief medical officer and chief nursing officer respectively setting out the new advice in more detail. Contact between parents and health professionals is the key channel for communicating advice on reducing the risks of cot death. The Department is considering urgently whether any further action is needed.