Lords launch preterm birth inquiry by hearing from academics and charities

The session can be followed live on Parliament TV or in person in Committee Room 3, Palace of Westminster on Monday 12 February from 2.30pm.

Giving evidence at 2.30pm will be:

• Dr Jennifer Jardine, Academic Clinical Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Mary, University of London;
• Professor Marian Knight MBE, Professor of Maternal and Child Population Health, and Director, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford;
• Professor Jan van der Meulen, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Chair, National Maternity and Perinatal Audit Project Team.

Giving evidence at 3.30pm will be:

• Kath Abrahams, Chief Executive, Tommy’s;
• David Badcock, Chief Executive, Borne;
• Clea Harmer, Chief Executive, Sands.

Members will ask questions relating to:

• the current rates of preterm birth in England;
• risk factors associated with preterm birth;
• the impact of preterm birth in terms of infant mortality, morbidity and longer-term outcomes;
• variation of preterm birth rates and outcomes by geography, ethnic group and socioeconomic background;
• priority areas for intervention and further research.

The committee will be launching its call for evidence shortly.