Reversal of infant mortality rates is heart-breaking – Jonathan Ashworth

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary, responding to new ONS figures which shows that infant mortality has risen, said:

“The continued reversal of infant mortality rates is heart-breaking and must prompt serious action from ministers.

“We urgently need to tackle all factors influencing this, an
important first step would be to halt swingeing cuts to public health
and early years services by this Tory government.

“Ministers can’t ignore the fundamental truth that rising child
poverty, deprivation and severe inequality betray our children and
worsen health outcomes. Narrowing health inequalities and improving the
health and wellbeing of every child will be an explicit aim of the next
Labour government.”