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Number of women in UK who die during pregnancy rises sharply
The number of women who have died during pregnancy or soon after has risen sharply to its highest levels for 20 years, prompting concern from experts.
The maternal death rate increased to 13.41 deaths per 100,000 pregnancies between 2020 and 2022, according to figures published by the MBRRACE-UK investigation into maternal deaths in the UK. The figure was 8.79 in the period 2017 to 2019.
It is the highest death toll since 2003-05, when the maternal death rate stood at 13.95 deaths per 100,000.
Prof Marian Knight, the director of national perinatal epidemiology unit and MBRRACE-UK maternal reporting lead, said she was concerned by the figures, adding: “These data show that the UK maternal death rate has returned to levels that we have not seen for the past 20 years.”
An NHS England spokesperson said: “While the NHS has made significant improvements to maternity services over the last decade, we know further action is needed to improve the experiences of women and their families across the country.”
A separate study has found that women who experience depression during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child are also more than twice as likely to die prematurely, particularly due to suicide.
An international team of researchers set out to determine whether women with perinatal depression are at an increased risk of death compared with unaffected women and sisters.
Using Swedish national registry data from 2001 and 2018, they identified 86,551 women with a first ever diagnosis of perinatal depression and 865,510 unaffected women matched by age and calendar year at delivery.
The results show that women with perinatal depression were more than twice as likely to die than women who did not have perinatal depression, The BMJ said. Results were similar when comparing deaths between sisters and among women who did and did not have a pre-existing psychiatric disorder.
Source: The Guardian, 11 January 2024
See also: MBRRACE-UK - Maternal mortality 2020-2022 | Saving Lives, Improving Mother’s Care
Bränn E, Shen Q, Lu D. Perinatal depression and its health impact. BMJ. 2024 Jan 9
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Northern Ireland: Ex-councillor in court for alleged tobacco smuggling
Four men, including an ex-councillor, have been returned for trial on charges allegedly linked to a vast tobacco smuggling enterprise dating back over six years.
Appearing for a committal hearing yesterday (Wednesday) was Anthony McPhillips (61) from Ashvale Avenue, Rosslea, a one-time councillor on Fermanagh District Council.
Joining him were Peter Martin (65) Ballynaclosha Road and Peter Hughes (65) from Legmoylin Road both in Newry along with Stephen John McKenna (55) of Rinnalea Gardens, Belfast.
Hughes. McKenna and McPhillips are accused of fraudulently evading Customs Duty Charge Goods and VAT relating to 1848 kilograms of tobacco.
Martin, McKenna and McPhillips are jointly accused of conspiring to cheat the public revenue of monies due by way of duty chargeable on the importation of tobacco products from 2014 to 2017.
She remanded all four on bail to appear for arraignment before Dungannon Crown Court on January 31.
Source: The Impartial Reporter, 12 January 2024
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Westminster Hall debate: Smokefree Future
On Thursday, peers debated the recommendations in the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Smoking and Health’s manifesto for a smoke-free future.
Bob Blackman (Con) Chairman of APPG on Smoking & Health led the debate. Mr Blackman welcomed the Government’s commitment to delivering a smokefree-generation by raising the age of sale for tobacco, and called on the Government to implement the APPG’s recommendations to deliver the smokefree 2030 ambition.
Mary Kelly Foy (Lab), Vice Chair of the APPG on Smoking & Health, highlighted the impact of smoking in the North East and called for the introduction of a ‘polluter pays’ levy on tobacco manufacturers to raise the funding needed to end smoking.
Jim Shannon (DUP) MP for Strangford and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Respiratory Health, strongly supported the government’s smokefree 2030 ambition, and spoke about his own ambition for Northern Ireland to set a smokefree target.
Liz Twist (Lab) MP for Blaydon and Shadow Minister (Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government), reiterated Labour’s support for the smoke-free generation announcement and spoke about her own constituency in the North East and the vital role played by regional tobacco control programmes like Fresh .
Responding for Labour, Preet Kaur Gill (Lab) Shadow Minister (Primary Care and Public Health) highlight Labour’s support for the smokefree generation policy but also asked if it goes far enough. Ms Gill also spoke about the figure of 9% of mothers were smokers at time of delivery and said the Labour “child health action plan” would ensure all hospital trusts integrate integrated opt-out smoking cessation interventions into routine care.
Responding for the Government, Dame Andrea Leadsom (Con) Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care) spoke about the government action plan announced which included: creating a smoke-free generation by ensuring that children turning 15 this year, or younger, will never legally be sold tobacco products; supporting existing smokers to quit through significant new funding and support; protecting children from vaping by reducing the appeal and availability of vapes; and introducing new action to enforce these rules.
Leadsom stated that the government will more than double the funding for stop smoking services across England to £138 million a year, roll out a national financial incentive scheme by the end of 2024 to help all pregnant smokers and their partners to quit, a new bill (tobacco and vapes bill) with be introduced to reduce the appeal and availability of vapes and £30 million will be given to Border Force, HMRC and trading standards to back the enforcement of these policies and limit illicit trade of tobacco and vapes.
The Minister confirmed that the Government’s response to the smokefree generation consultation will be published in the coming weeks.
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How to fix the NHS: Public health
News presenter for Sky News, Sarah-Jane Mee, was joined by Sir David Nicholson, who used to run the NHS in England, to discuss 'How to fix the NHS' – as part of a new mini podcast series for 2024 from the Sky News Daily.
Sarah-Jane and Sir David looked at the work going on in public health - which spans everything from preventing disease to giving people the tools and information to make healthier lifestyle choices.
They were joined by Greg Fell, Director of Public Health in Sheffield and chair of the Association of Directors of Public Health, to discuss areas including the 'nanny state' debate around tobacco and calories on menus, and why Fell thinks primary care provision needs some "bravery".
Source: Sky News, 5 January 2024
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NHS: Statistics on Women's Smoking Status at Time of Delivery: England, Quarter 2, 2023-24
NHS Digital released their statistics on women’s smoking status at time of delivery, at Sub Integrated Care Board (Sub-ICB), Integrated Care Board (ICB), regional and national levels this week. This release includes provisional data for quarter 2 of 2023-24. The main takeaways from the release include:
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7.5% of mothers were known to be smokers at the time of delivery.
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0.5% point decrease of smokers at the time of delivery from quarter 1 of 2023-2024 (8.0%), but above the national ambition of 6% or less.
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22 out of 106 submitting Sub-ICBs met the national ambition of 6% or less.
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Consultation on restrictions on ads for "less healthy" foods
In 2022, the UK Government introduced legislation amending the Communications Act 2003 to place additional restrictions on certain food and drink advertising. In recognition of public health concerns over children’s diet and health, there have been restrictions on the advertising of high fat, salt or sugar (“HFSS”) food or drink products since 2007.
A consultation has been opened to determine whether there should be further restrictions on advertising for “less healthy” food and drink products. The Obesity Health Alliance have raised concerns that the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) narrow interpretation of an ‘identifiable product’ will not protect children as the legislation intended.
The OHA are coordinating responses, if you would like to contribute, please contact [email protected]
The consultation closes on 7 February 2024
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
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