‘Take action now to stop hundreds of avoidable child deaths in capital’

HUNDREDS of London children are dying unnecessarily each year, health chiefs warned today as they called for action to reduce child mortality.

Public Health England revealed that 675 Londoners aged up to 19 died in 2014 — the most recent figures available — including 393 babies who were under a year old.

The most common causes of death were accidents, complications before or after birth, suicide or self-inflicted injuries, and infectious diseases.

Despite significant reductions in child mortality in England and Wales in the last three decades, almost one in three young deaths were still classed as “avoidable” as they were not related to chronic or congenital conditions.

Neonatal birth injuries — those suffered by babies aged less than 28 days — accounted for two thirds of fatalities in London children under one.

Traffic injuries, drowning, assault and suicide were the most common reason for death in children aged five and above, and accounted for about a quarter of deaths among teenagers.

However, the rate of children killed or seriously injured in road collisions in the capital was below the national average.

Dr Marilena Korkodilos, a paediatrician and child health lead for PHE’s London region, said: “The death of any child or young person is tragic, and it may come as a shock to hear how many of these deaths are preventable. While numbers have reduced over recent years, too many children and young people continue to die unnecessarily.

“By raising awareness of preventable deaths and providing accessible information on how they could potentially be reduced we can further educate parents, guardians and health professionals and reduce child mortality.

“If the UK had the same childhood mortality as countries like Sweden, there would be five fewer child deaths every day.”

Key factors that increase the risk of child death include parental smoking and the age of the parents, with teenage mothers most at risk of losing a child to cot death.

Babies born prematurely, at a low birth weight and into a family living in deprivation are also at greater risk. Every 11 days in London a baby suffers sudden unexpected death.

Measures to reduce deaths include increasing the uptake of immunisations, ensuring mothers get the best possible health care during and after pregnancy, providing safe environments for children inside and outside of home, and communicating better with families to spot signs of failing health.