Infant death rate in Milton Keynes sparks focus on smoking and obesity in mums

Data presented to the health and wellbeing board showed the number of deaths of infants aged less than one year old sits at 5.2 for every 1,000 live births.

“Although the infant mortality rate in Milton Keynes has fallen from 7.3 per 1,000 in 2001-03, the rate of decline has not been maintained,” said Muriel Scott, the city’s director of public health, in her report to the board.

That puts Milton Keynes at a worse level than 15 comparable council areas and more than double the death rate of the best five per cent of councils.

The best areas have rates of 2.5 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The figures come from a rolling average of the official data from 2016-2018 alongside a review of more up to date information.

A Milton Keynes Council spokesman said that every death of a child is reviewed by a panel, including those of the extremely premature.

“These reports set out recommendations for health and social partners to help reduce child and infant mortality with a particular focus on addressing modifiable risk factors,” he said.

Health chiefs are focusing their efforts on tackling rising levels of smoking and obesity, which they say are risk factors in pregnancy.

The board, which is chaired by council leader Cllr Pete Marland (Lab, Wolverton) was also told that more pregnant mothers have been lighting up in the city, with an increasing number of would-be mums smoking at the time of delivery.

Even in the last 12 months alone the number of pregnant women smoking has risen from 9.6 per cent to 14.3 per cent.

With a 13.3 per cent smoking rate, according to 2018-19 figures, Milton Keynes is ranked sixth in a list of 15 similar local authorities.

The best council areas see fewer than five in every 100 pregnant women smoking.

The board’s members, who are drawn from social care, the NHS, GPs, and police were told that efforts are being made to reduce smoking.

And a new maternal weight management service was introduced in April this year.

“All pregnant mothers are now referred to the Stop Smoking Service by the midwifery team which now also has a mandatory opt-out process,” said the report.

“Non-responders are re-referred back to midwives, and women who are classified as high-risk or have a high carbon monoxide reading are referred to the Smoking in Pregnancy Champion.”

The report said that the quality of data needs to be improved.

The smoking status of mums to be is not recorded at MK Hospital and information could be missing for about 20-30 per cent of them, the report said.

“A deep dive is underway to identify opportunities for improvement and to streamline tobacco control work in this area,” the report added.

The health and wellbeing board supports encouraging a smoke-free environment at all NHS sites in Milton Keynes and to raise awareness among frontline staff of smoking cessation services.