Task force set up to tackle high number of baby deaths in Preston
A task force has been set up to find out why there's a high number of babies dying before their first birthday in Preston.
A task force has been set up to find out why there's a high number of babies dying before their first birthday in Preston.
Preston City Council has visited 700 houses in the St Matthews area of the city to find out if living conditions are behind the problem.
It's part of a year long investigation into the number of baby deaths in Preston.
96 babies died before the age of one in the city between 2005 and 2014.
The infant mortality rate is above the national average and is particularly high in the St Matthews, Ribbleton and Deepdale areas of the city.
Councillor Roy Leeming is leading the task force - he tells Rock FM that they have found several issues that may be factors and are working to solve them
They include tackling fuel poverty as many families can't afford heating during winter.
Another factor is smoking during pregnancy - 28% of mothers-to-be smoke in the St Matthews area.
Preston City Council want households to sign up to a "no smoking" pledge.
A final factor is reinforcing the sleep safe message.
Councillor Leeming told us that midwives have found that babies are not always laid on their back when they are put to bed.
The council say they want to work with charities to reinforce that message.