Sefton benefits from new joint initiative to prevent sudden unexpected deaths of infants

A new initiative designed to reduce the number of sudden, unexpected deaths of infants (SUDI) is being launched across Sefton following a successful pilot phase of the joint project between health visitors and Merseyside Police in Liverpool.

Under the new initiative Merseyside Police officers have been updated in best practice for identifying unsafe sleep practices and reiterating safer sleep advice, provided by the Health Visitor team, and will use new technology to help provide support for those that need it.

Helen Pruden, Mersey Care’s Operational Manager for Children and Young People (0-5) in Sefton, explained: “We’re delighted with the success of this initiative in Liverpool with Merseyside Police so we wanted to expand it across Sefton so we can help as many families as possible.

“Anyone who has experienced a sudden and unexpected death of an infant, which we used to refer to as a cot death, will know that it’s an extremely tragic and traumatic experience for any family and we want to stop this happening.

"Health Visitors routinely give safe sleep advice and complete safe sleep risk assessments at our antenatal, new birth and follow up contacts to try and prevent them from happening. There will be times, though, when families are in crisis and messages can be forgotten.

“Merseyside Police will often come across these situations and so for them to be able to give reminders to families of the importance of safe sleep is vital. They’ll then inform the health visitor so they can review and make a clinical decision whether to contact the family to offer additional support. “

The successful Liverpool pilot was launched after Constable Craig Walsh from Merseyside Police, approached the Health Visiting team run by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, who work with children and families in Liverpool and Sefton during the antenatal period up to five years.

From those initial meetings, Constable Walsh developed an app which will enable officers to notify the Health Visiting Team directly, when they identify unsafe sleep practices. This process will allow Health Visitors to clinically assess if further advice or support for parents/carers is required.

The two organisations will work closely together after instances of sudden unexpected deaths of children under the age of one, with risk factors, have increased from 46.4 percent in 2019/20 to 68.2 percent in 2020/2021.

Constable Craig Walsh explained: “Merseyside Police are the first force in the country to help spread awareness and prevent SIDS during infancy, working in partnership with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and the Lullaby Trust. 

“In 2023 an app was developed to allow frontline officers to notify NHS Mersey Care instantly when they identify signs of unsafe sleeping, providing a faster response and giving us an opportunity to engage with families and provide them with help and advice from the experts. 31 referrals have been made since it was launched in Liverpool.

“Key safeguarding messages regarding safer sleep will always be delivered by NHS midwives and Health Visitors. However, Merseyside Police have a part to play by recognising the practical signs of unsafe sleep habits and getting the right support to families.

Constable Walsh added: “We want to support parents and carers in what can be a very tiring and stressful time in their lives. By identifying small but important changes and providing the right advice we can hopefully reduce the risk of harm for those families we come into contact with.”

Superintendent Martin Earl, Prevention, Merseyside Police said: “This initiative is a great example of the preventative work that we carry out every day and I am delighted to see it rolling out across Sefton, following the success of the pilot in Liverpool. Working in partnership with Mersey Care we will be able to support more families and prevent them experiencing the heartache of losing a child.”

Councillor Ian Moncur, Health and Wellbeing Cabinet Member at Sefton Borough Council, said: “I’m delighted to support this great, joined up safe sleep initiative in Sefton. It will help maximise the opportunities for organisations involved with families to raise awareness and promote safe sleep habits, helping to prevent the devastating effect of the sudden and unexpected deaths of children by supporting and educating our families.”