See this from the Scottish government site, yesterday:
‘Scotland has become the first country in the UK to achieve full UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation in all of its maternity and community health visiting services, following NHS Lothian receiving the honour. The accreditation demonstrates that health boards across the country are providing new mums and babies with the best possible support and care.’
https://news.gov.scot/news/unicef-uk-award-for-scotland
The above news adds to an already existing trend in Scotland, with regard to care of the child.
Stillbirths at almost Scandinavian levels
In the Nordic countries – Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland – the rate of stillbirths and deaths of babies within 28 days is 4.3 per 1 000 live births. This is the lowest in the world. In the USA, it’s about 10. The Scottish figure has now fallen to just 4.72 with the rate for the UK at 5.61.
However, there’s something a bit contradictory here isn’t there. Aren’t we the sick man of Europe with shorter life expectancies due to smoking and poor diets? Shouldn’t our childbirth figures be higher than the rest of the UK? Yet, they’re not. Why? Well, I’ve already reported on what are probably the two main reasons – lower child poverty and a better NHS. Here’s a reminder of the evidence for these claims and their sources. On child poverty, see this again:
Scotland has smallest number of children living in poverty
‘Scotland, for example, has the smallest number of children living in poverty among the constituent nations of the UK, the lowest prevalence of low pay and far more young people from deprived areas going on to higher education.’ (iv)
So, who gets the credit for this? Have years of progressive social policies implemented by the SNP helped in anyway do you think? Are the UK figures lagging due to Tory austerity measures?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38853700
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40366637
Talking-up Scotland 