SAFER BIRTHS CAMPAIGN

That this House is shocked that more than 3,500 babies are stillborn in the UK every year, one of the worst rates in the developed world so that the UK currently ranks 21st out of 49 similar high income countries; is aware that more babies die in the womb or first week of life than they do from cot death, road deaths and meningitis combined; recognises that one in three of these babies - around 1,200 each year - are stillborn when the pregnancy has reached full term; notes that if delivered on time, before the babies got into difficulty, they are likely to have survived and been healthy; understands that more research is needed to help answer the questions that surround stillbirth and neonatal death; believes that more than half of stillbirths in the UK could be prevented if the NHS implemented additional scans; pays tribute to organisations like Sands, Kicks Count and others who seek to raise awareness of this issue; appreciates the devastating, heartbreaking and long-term impact on couples who face the stillbirth of their child; and congratulates the Sunday Times Safer Births Campaign which is seeking to shine a light on this issue and improve outcomes for all mothers-to-be and their babies.