INFANT mortality rates across the Bradford district are continuing to fall, but still remain above national and regional averages, a new report has revealed.

The latest figure for 2012 to 2014 of 5.8 deaths per 1,000 live births shows a slight reduction from 5.9 deaths per 1,000 in 2011 to 2013, and 7.0 deaths per 1,000 for 2010 to 2012.

While the rate in Bradford has fallen annually over the past decade, it remains higher than the 2012 to 2014 national average of 4.0 deaths per 1,000 births, and the regional average for Yorkshire and the Humber of 4.2 deaths per 1,000 births.

A new report by the council's Public Health team has highlighted work being done to implement the Every Baby Matters Action Plan to continue the downward trend, describing the latest figures as the "lowest since records began."

Key work undertaken over the past year has included several schemes by the Better Start Bradford team, who were awarded £49 million in June 2014 to deliver 22 projects designed to improve outcomes for children in three wards with historically high infant mortality rates, Bradford Moor, Bowling and Barkerend, and Little Horton.

Initiatives such as a Perinatal Support Service, a pilot project in personalised midwifery care, the Talking Together scheme, and a Baby Buddy mobile phone app for parents have now begun, alongside midwifery support for vulnerable women at Bradford and Airedale Hospital Trusts.

Other projects have included the launch of maternal mental health pathway, a healthy start programme with provision of Vitamin D for pregnant women and young children, training for 300 staff around genetic inheritance awareness, and home safety equipment for more than 4,000 households in deprived areas of the district.

Anita Parkin, director of Public Health, said: "It is really positive to see that infant mortality rates are at their lowest level since records began, but we know that there is much more work that needs to be done.

"By focusing on the ten key areas highlighted in the Every Baby Matters action plan, our aim is to continue to improve the survival rates of babies in the Bradford district.

"Although we have seen recent improvements, we are working hard to further reduce the risks by reducing child poverty and improving education and housing standards.

"We’re also looking to ensure families get access to high-quality services from pre-conception and pregnancy through to infancy."

The latest figures will be discussed by members of Bradford Council's Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee when it meets on Thursday.