What needs are unmet?
Strategic Issue 1
The infant mortality rate is increasing and significantly higher than the regional and national average. Hartlepool has high levels of deprivation which is a key driver of infant mortality. There is a need for cross-sector collaboration to target maternal health, access to care, poverty, poor housing and education to improve infant outcomes. There are high rates of maternal health risks including smoking, obesity and not breastfeeding. There is a need for developing support around these issues through targeted intervention in community-outreach, such as smoking cessation, healthy pregnancy programmes and breastfeeding education and support.
Strategic Issue 2
Prevention services for alcohol and substance use and smoking during pregnancy.
Strategic Issue 3
There is a need for high-risk maternity services in the Borough.