House of Lords committee calls for action to tackle preterm birth

In a report published today (14 November), the House of Lords Committee on Preterm Birth says a ‘co-ordinated effort’ is ‘vital’ to reduce the number of babies being born too soon and minimise the harm caused by preterm birth.

It confirms that the current target of reducing England’s overall preterm birth rate to 6% by 2025 will not be met, and recommends a new approach which it says should include a focus on reducing disparities in preterm birth rates between different groups of women and birthing people.

Preterm birth – when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy - is more likely to affect people from Black and Asian backgrounds, and those living in the most deprived areas of the UK, than those from White backgrounds and those in the least deprived areas.

It can have life-changing consequences, leaving children at higher risk of long-term complications including learning disabilities, hearing problems and visual impairment. It is also the most common cause of death among children under 5 in the UK, where around 53,000 babies are born preterm every year.

The House of Lords committee report, Preterm birth: reducing risks and saving lives, recommends a greater focus on research to understand what causes preterm birth, along with increased funding, to develop more effective interventions.

Kath Abrahams, Chief Executive of Tommy’s, who gave evidence to the committee, said:

“This report chimes very powerfully with our own calls for more collaborative action, new national ambitions for reductions in preterm birth and further research.

“We agree that any new targets must address disparities in preterm birth rates between different groups. These gaps have been too wide for far too long, reflecting the damaging and unacceptable inequities that continue to affect Black and Asian families and those living in the most deprived areas of the UK.

“In March this year, we set up Tommy’s National Centre for Preterm Birth Research – the first of its kind in the UK - bringing together experts who can advance our understanding of preterm birth and deliver new treatments to predict and prevent it.

“At the moment, 6 babies are born prematurely every hour in the UK. That’s 1 in every 13. Too many lives are being lost and too many families devastated by premature birth, which we know can leave parents with ongoing feelings of anxiety, depression and guilt.

“We look forward to reading the Government’s response to the report’s recommendations.”

Professor Catherine Williamson, Director of Tommy’s National Centre for Preterm Birth Research, said: 

“I welcome this timely report that emphasises the importance of improving outcomes for babies affected by preterm birth and their families.  

“The report highlights the need for research to understand the causes of preterm birth so we can develop treatments that will have the most impact.

“At the Tommy’s National Centre for Preterm Birth Research, we are supporting a portfolio of research projects designed to understand why preterm birth occurs, target treatments to improve outcomes and develop better psychological and practical support for families.  

“A major focus of the Centre is collaboration. If the best scientists and clinicians work together, and if we include the voices and perspectives of people from diverse groups throughout the UK, together we can reduce preterm birth rates and improve outcomes for families.”

The report says the Government and NHS England must fulfil commitments to develop the maternity and neonatal workforce, as set out in the NHS Long-term Workforce Plan.

It warns: “Despite recent improvements to staffing levels in some areas, maternity and neonatal services continue to be affected by significant staff shortages. This constrains the delivery of optimal, safe care for preterm babies and their families.”

Additionally, it calls for:

• More consistent implementation of national care guidelines for the prevention and treatment of preterm birth, ending different approaches between regions and NHS Trusts
• Improved opportunities and training for health visitors to develop specialist knowledge of the needs of preterm babies and their families
• Publication of NHS information about how many neonatal units provide sufficient accommodation for all families with a preterm baby in hospital, and plans to improve facilities where there are gaps
• ‘Swift action’ to find out why the recommended follow-up assessments - which are supposed to take place at the ages of two and four for children who were born prematurely – are not being delivered consistently
• Steps to ensure all women have access to information and advice on pregnancy planning and preconception health, as part of the Government’s strategy for women’s health.

Robert Wilson, Head of the Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit, said: 

“This report is right to highlight the lack of progress on preterm birth, as well as the persistent inequalities in preterm birth across different socioeconomic and ethnic groups.  

“We agree with the committee that this needs to be much more of a priority for the NHS and government as a whole. With three-quarters of neonatal deaths occurring in babies born preterm, greater progress is vital to save more babies’ lives and reduce inequalities.”