HL Deb 27 February 2003 vol 645 cc58-9WA
Baroness Cox

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What measures they will take in response to the EuroNational audit of antenatal care reported in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology which places England at the bottom of a list of 10 European countries. [HL1719]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The Euronatal study notes a lower rate of perinatal deaths in England compared with most other European countries. Of this low number, the study indicates a relatively high percentage may have been influenced by suboptimal care factors.

The study also acknowledges that the Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy may mean that English cases have been more rigorously analysed than those in other countries.

The data used is from 1993–98. Antenatal care is only one aspect of suboptimal care contributing to perinatal death, and much has been done in recent years to improve all aspects of maternity care. This includes:

  1. (i) £100 million investment to modernise over 200 maternity units, which includes purchase of new and replacement equipment, e.g. ultrasound scanners, special care baby cots, etc;
  2. (ii) Publication of clinical guidelines by National Institute for Clinical Excellence on:
    1. (a) routine use of Anti D prophylaxis for rhesus negative pregnant women;
    2. (b) foetal heart monitoring;
    3. (c) induction of labour;
  3. (iii) Clinical guidelines from NICE on antenatal care and use of caesarean section including antenatal screening are due later this year. Guidelines on care during delivery and post natal care have recently been commissioned.
  4. (iv) The development of a children's national service framework, which will set national standards of care for antenatal, intrapartum (delivery) and post natal services;
  5. (v) Increasing the number of doctors and midwives.