Frequently asked questions about the STAND UP for Tiny Lives Campaign

1 ) Who is Action Medical Research?

  • Action Medical Research is a UK based medical charity that has been in existence over 50 years.
  • Action Medical Research has supported many breakthroughs made by researchers including the UK polio vaccine, the first hip replacement surgery and the use of folic acid for preventing spina bifida.
  • A recent focus has been supporting research into premature birth and pregnancy complication.

2 ) How big a problem is premature birth?

  • Each year approximately 50,000 babies are born prematurely.
  • Tragically, more than 25 babies die each week as a result of being born too soon.
  • Doctors still don’t why premature birth occurs or how to prevent it.

3 ) Why is Action Medical Research campaigning on this subject?

  • One family told us that they had lost three babies to complications arising from premature birth; many such families have been in touch with us.
  • In the past three years, Action Medical Research has funded over three million pounds worth of research in the UK into premature birth and pregnancy complication.
  • Action Medical Research is calling on the UK government to develop the first UK research strategy for premature birth to begin to understand why babies are born prematurely and so to reduce the incidence of premature birth.

4 ) Where does the campaign get its legitimacy?

  • Action Medical Research has supported 34 new research projects around the UK into premature birth and pregnancy complication.
  • The STAND UP for Tiny Lives Campaign has at its heart a steering group comprising 15 parents of premature babies and 15 clinicians/researchers.
  • All major decisions are made in consultation with this group.

5 ) Which organizations are supporting the campaign?

6 ) Will this divert money from care of premature babies?

  • Each year approximately 50,000 babies are born prematurely.
  • The earlier a child is born the more likely the child is to experience lifelong health complications.
  • Were more babies born at term, Action Medical Research believe there would be benefits for all concerned; families, the NHS and the public purse.

7 ) So are you just calling for more money?

  • No.
  • In December 2006, Action Medical Research delivered a petition to Downing Street calling for government action on this problem; they failed to listen.
  • Government are keen to reduce infant deaths and also tackle the strain on neonatal intensive care services much harder.
  • Action Medical Research is calling on government to commission a Premature Birth Inquiry to lead to the UK’s first national research strategy for identifiying the triggers and treatments for premature birth.

8 ) What is the government’s policy towards tackling premature birth?

  • Government currently spend £5million on research in this area.
  • Consider how little doctors know about why premature birth happens or how to prevent it, we believe this doesn’t go nearly far enough.
  • As charity resources are limited and premature birth is not seen as a priority area for business, the uncertainties around premature birth are not being resolved.

9 ) What does premature birth cost the public purse?

  • Research published in 2005 (Petrou) estimated that the average cost for inpatient care for a baby born under 28 weeks in their first 10 years of life was £17,819
  • For a baby born between 32-36 weeks, these costs dropped to an average of £5,376
  • We believe research into predicting, delaying or preventing premature birth could be extremely cost effective.
  • Furthermore, by being able to better identify which mothers may be at risk of premature birth, it may be possible to also help local authorities better plan social care support for babies.  Premature babies are at a significantly higher risk of developing lifelong health complications as a result of being born too soon.