Dear Colleague

COT DEATH: PUBLICATION OF NEW LEAFLET

Summary

1. This MEL provides information about a revised cot death leaflet and encloses copies of the leaflet for distribution.

Background

2. In 1991 the "Back to Sleep" campaign was launched. To accompany the campaign a leaflet was distributed: "Reduce the Risk of Cot Death" that provided advice to parents and carers of very young children. The number of cot deaths have reduced from 131 in 1991 to 37 in 1998. The Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Infancy (SUDI) Report, published earlier this month, consolidates the evidence basis for the Health Department’s advice on ways to reduce the risk of cot death and provides additional advice. This has been used to produce an updated version of the leaflet for parents and carers.

The new advice contained in the leaflet includes:

  • Keeping the cot in the parents bedroom for the first 6 months.
    •
  • Not falling asleep on the sofa with the baby.
  • Not sleeping with the baby in the bed if the mother is a smoker, takes any form of drugs or medication making them sleep more heavily, has drunk alcohol recently or is very tired.

3. Action

The leaflet should be distributed widely. In particular, General Managers of Health Boards are asked to distribute the leaflets to health promotion managers, Chief Executives of Primary Care Trusts Trust are asked to ensure that copies of the leaflet are distributed to all General Practitioners in their area and Directors of Nursing are asked to ensure distribution to midwives.

Additional copies of the leaflet can be obtained from: Health Care Policy Division
The Health Department
Scottish Executive
Room 2E (N)
St Andrew’s House
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

Or by phone – 0131 244 2533

Yours sincerely

KEVIN J WOODS
Director of Strategy and Performance Management

  

23 February 2000
NHS MEL 2000(8)

Addresses

For action

General Managers, Health Boards.
Chief Executives, NHS Trusts
Directors of Nursing, NHS Trusts

For Information

Directors of Public Health
Consultants in Public Health Medicine (Maternal and Child Health)
Medical Directors of Trusts
Directors of Nursing, NHS Trusts
Consultant paediatricians with a special interest in cot death

Those on Annex A

______________________________

Enquiries to:

URIEL JAMIESON
Health Care Policy Division
Room 2E(North)
St Andrew’s House
EDINBURGH EH1 3DG

Tel: 0131-244-2392
Fax: 0131-244- 2051

_______________________



ANNEX A

Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh)

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow)

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (Scottish Branch)

Royal College of GPs

Royal College of Nursing Scottish Board

Royal College of Midwives Scottish Board

Scottish Health Visitors’ Association

Community and District Nursing Association, Scotland

The National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, Scotland

The Association of British Paediatric Nurses (Scottish Branch)

Scottish Neonatal Nurses Group

Community & District Nursing Association

Independent Hospital Senior Nurses Group

National Childbirth Trust

NHS Helpline

Registered pre-school centres