Susan Kramer MP tabled EDM 1524 in light of news from the National Toxicology Program in the US that exposure to low levels of Bisphenol A ‘can cause changes in behaviour and the brain, prostate gland, mammary gland and the age at which females attain puberty’.  The text of the EDM is below:

That this House notes that Bisphenol A, or BPA, a monomer used to make polycarbonate and expoxy resins, has been found to leak from the plastic used in many baby feeding bottles, especially when the bottles are heated or are scratched through repeated washing; notes that the National Toxicology Program, part of the US National Institutes of Health, found that, based on animal experiments, exposure to low levels of BPA `can cause changes in behaviour and the brain, prostate gland, mammary gland and the age at which females attain puberty’; further notes that these products are being withdrawn in Canada as a precautionary measure; commends the decision by Asda and other UK retailers to produce BPA-free bottles; joins the National Childbirth Trust in calling for the clear compositional labelling of plastic baby feeding bottles with Bisphenol A so that parents can make an informed choice; and calls on the Food Standards Agency to urgently review the use of BPA in baby bottles in light of the new evidence

The main finding of the report, which covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland, is that stillbirth rates are not declining. Factors such as social deprivation, obesity and the mother’s age are blamed. In 2006 the stillbirth rate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was 5.3 per 1,000 total births, compared to 5.4 per 1,000 in 2000.

However, the report did find that there has been a reduction in the number of babies dying in the month after birth. These neonatal deaths went from 3.9 per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 3.4 per 1,000 in 2006.

The report also found that the number of babies dying in the neonatal period from twin pregnancies has also fallen, from 22.3 per 1,000 births in 2000 to 19.3 per 1,000 births in 2006.

To view the full report online report, please go to www.cemach.org.uk. 

Mary Bradley MLA, asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail its delivery plan to eradicate child poverty.

In response the Rt Hon Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness said that it was totally unacceptable that around 100,000 children live in poverty in Northern Ireland and that the Executive is determined to tackle this issue as a priority. They highlighted that their Programme for Government commits specifically to:

They also stated that there are a number of policies which currently aim to lift children out of poverty. These include tax and benefit policies set by the UK Government, and Programmes such as Early Years, New Deal and Sure Start which are the responsibility of Northern Ireland Departments, but that more needs to be done if the targets are to be achieved. Consequently, the Executive will soon adopt its own Strategy to tackle poverty and social exclusion based on objective need. In so doing it will take account of the findings and recommendations coming out of the current enquiry by the OFMDFM Committee. The findings from their own departmental work on tackling disadvantage and barriers experienced by lone parents and people with disabilities, which is nearing completion, will also be taken into account.

Children’s Ministers Ed Balls and Beverley Hughes celebrated the news that Labour’s target for 2,500 Children’s Centres to be open by the start of this month had been exceeded.

Visiting a Sure Start Children’s Centre in Stockwell, south London they revealed that 2,906 Children’s Centres were opened across England by 31 March 2008 - beating the 2,500 target.

Sure Start Children’s Centres are a one-stop shop for families and children under five. They offer easy access to a range of services including early years learning, childcare, family health services, and advice and support for parents.  A recent independent evaluation report found that Sure Start was having a positive impact on the lives of children and families.

Ms Chuilin asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the provision and support his department is providing for pregnant women who are experiencing (i) mental illness; and (ii) personality disorder.

Mr M McGimpsey replied that “many pregnant women with ongoing mental illness or personality disorders will already be known to services and be receiving care, either at the primary care level or from specialist mental health services. These established care arrangements should continue throughout her pregnancy, and should be provided in co-operation with those delivering her maternity care.

For those women who, during their pregnancy, develop, or exhibit for the first time, a mental health problem, I would expect midwives and obstetricians to recognise that there is a potential mental health issue and that established liaison arrangements should be in place to enable them to quickly contact an appropriate source for advice, support and, where necessary, specialised treatment.”

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) launched a new Code for the UK’s 674,000 nurses and midwives to mark World Health Day. The updated version of the Code Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives comes into effect on 1 May 2008.

The Code, which was launched with events held in Edinburgh, Belfast, Glamorgan and London, is the foundation of good nursing and midwifery practice and a key tool in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the public.  It has been updated to meet the ever changing requirements of today’s nurses and midwives and aims to clarify expectations; setting out for nurses and midwives what is expected of them as professionals, and showing members of the public what standard of care they can expect to receive. The amendments made were agreed upon after an extensive review process, including consultation with nurses, midwives and members of the public. 

Rather than setting out pages of rules, which would be unsuitable considering the varied roles and individual patient needs, the pocket-sized Code provides a broad set of principles that nurses and midwives can apply to their own area of practise and the diverse environments in which patients receive care

The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) has announced that it has launched a breastfeeding educational CD resource for schools, to assist teachers in their approach to the sensitive topic of breastfeeding in a way that is both interesting and thought provoking. It said that breastfeeding had been recognised as a major public health issue and that it was vitally important that education about breastfeeding should start in childhood, particularly in Northern Ireland, where it said there was a strong bottle-feeding culture.

The resource aims to provide significant support to those involved in educating school children about the importance of breastfeeding to the health of mum and baby.  It also sensitively tackles the need to change attitudes towards breastfeeding.

In response to a written question from Mr M Story MLA, the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety made assurances that there were no plans to remove the provision of consultant-led maternity services from the Causeway Hospital.

Mr B Wilson MLA has asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if he intends to introduce a Breastfeeding Bill, similar to legislation in force in Scotland, to protect the rights of mothers to breastfeed their children in public places or licensed premises.  The Minister responded that there wer currently no plans to introduce  legislation to protect te right of mothers to breastfeed  in public places but  said that whilst the Breastfeeding Strategy published in 1999 is currently being reviewed, developments in breastfeeding promotion and practice, including legislative changes in other parts of the UK, would be considered as part of the review to inform recommendations on the way forward.