“Stark socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities” in the mortality of babies admitted to NHS neonatal units have been reported in new research.
The study, carried out at Liverpool University and published in Lancet Child and Adolescent Health,1 used new methodology to analyse data on more than 700 000 babies admitted for NHS specialist care in the first month of life between 2012 and 2022.
It found that 11 257 (1.6%) of these babies had died in a neonatal unit.
It also found that babies born to black mothers were 81% more likely to die in neonatal care and that babies whose mothers lived in the most deprived areas had a 63% higher risk.
“The research highlights how existing biases and injustices in society are reflected in clinical settings, disproportionately affecting women and babies,” said David Taylor-Robinson, …
