Councillors have called for more information to explain why more babies die in Stoke-on-Trent compared to most other areas.

Stoke-on-Trent's infant mortality rate was 5.7 per 1,000 live births between 2002 and 2004, equating to around 20 deaths a year.

While this is the lowest rate in 15 years and below the West Midlands average, it remains higher than the average English rate of 4.2 per 1,000.

Scrutiny committee members at Stoke-on-Trent City Council were given an update on the work to reduce infant mortality as part of a report on maternity and neonatal services.

NHS officials told the adult social care, health integration and wellbeing committee that infant mortality is 'strongly associated' with deprivation and health inequalities, along with 'modifiable risk factors' such as smoking during pregnancy.

According to the report, a 'strengthened system-wide response' is now in place, led by the infant mortality steering group.

A refreshed action plan focuses on five priority areas, including preconception care, neonatal and maternity care, and wider determinants. University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) has a neonatal mortality rate more than five per cent higher than similar specialist trusts, and an external review into this is under way.

But managers from UHNM and the integrated care board told the committee that many of the factors behind infant mortality are already in place before a mum-to-be gets to the maternity ward.

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They said these factors form a 'really complicated jigsaw', but expressed confidence that progress is being made in bringing the data together.

The committee also heard that the NHS workforce is being redesigned to better address health inequalities, with enhanced continuity of care teams in areas with higher risk factors.

Committee members asked for further information on the subject, saying that they had never received a full explanation for Stoke-on-Trent's persistantly high infant mortality rate.

Cllr Joan Bell said: "Our infant mortality rate is something that's really concerned me over the years. Forty years ago I had a stillborn baby and I was told the same thing. Every time I've asked this question the answer hasn't been satisfactory. Why are the numbers higher in Stoke-on-Trent than anywhere else? There's no logical reason for it."

Director of public health Stephen Gunther said a detailed report on infant mortality would be prepared for a future meeting of the committee.

He said progress had been made in reducing infant mortality in Stoke-on-Trent, but acknowledged that the city's rate is still 'significantly higher' than the England average.

Mr Gunther said: "There are a number of factors behind that. It's associated with socio-economic conditions, and housing conditions, such as damp and mould, will also have an impact. The work around that may have contributed to the recent reduction.

"Smoking at the time of delivery is continuing to go down and that is having an impact."

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