Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas, today (Thursday, 12 June) announced that the Welsh Assembly Government will be funding an all-Wales pilot to review child deaths at a CEMACH (Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health) conference held at Cardiff.

Developed from and building upon the CEMACH model that analysed child deaths in a number of selected areas for one year it is anticipated that a Wales-wide pilot – focusing on child suicides - will identify avoidable factors and contributors to child deaths.

There are approximately 300 child deaths every year in Wales – of which almost half are babies under 28 days of age.

Speaking at the conference earlier today, Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas, said;

“The Assembly Government is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

“ We need to look at what can be done by local authorities, the NHS and other agencies to address these issues at a local level as well as what the Welsh Assembly Government might do at a national level.

“I am confident that an all-Wales pilot for Child Death reviews will identify avoidable factors that contribute to child deaths and consequently help us to eliminate or reduce them as far as possible.”

According to the findings of the CEMACH “Why Children Die” report that was presented to stakeholders earlier today more that half of the deaths of children over the age of 28 days may have been avoidable or potentially avoidable.

Said Gwenda Thomas; “The CEMACH report provides us with analysis of child deaths in one year and in a number of selected areas giving us a snapshot of the position at one point in time.”

“By undertaking further work and analysis we can develop effective policies to address unexpected child deaths.”

An unexpected death is defined as the death of a child that was not anticipated as a significant possibility 24 hours before the death, or where there was a similarly unexpected collapse leading to or precipitating the events that led to the death.

Subject to an assessment of the pilot, the aim would be to introduce a full Child Death Review scheme from 1 April 2010, following consultation with stakeholders on any proposed regulations and guidance.