Pledge to cut child deaths

More data is needed to identify the "problem areas" in child deaths, Dr Hilary told Daybreak this morning.

The Government will today announce a national pledge to cut child deaths, being amongst the worst in Europe for child mortality rates.

Dr Hilary said that we need to find out why we are missing the diagnosis of diabetes and asthma, and that the Government's proposals today could help to solve this.

Read: Government pledges to reduce UK child deaths

Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter said Britain's childhood mortality rates have been amongst the worst in Europe "for too long".

Adding that the variation across the country in the quality of care for children was "unacceptable".

He said: "I am determined that children and young people should be put at the heart of the new health and social care system. Too often in the past children's health has been an afterthought."

Dr Hilary Emery, chief executive of the National Children's Bureau, said the charity welcomed the Government's pledge to reduce child deaths.

She said it is "vital" children and young people are listened to across the health system, so that they can help to "shape health services and public health initiatives."

The Government will today announce a new national pledge to reduce child deaths.

As part of the new measures, they will introduce a survey to establish details of local health problems, and colour coded health maps to establish local health trends.

The Government aims to increase data, to help local authorities get hold of better information, to improve the health of young people.

The all-cause mortality rate of children from 0 to 14 years is now amongst the worst in Europe.