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MP raises case of sudden unexplained death of Silsden toddler in Parliament

Wednesday, 1 February 2023 23:04

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has shared the tragic news of the death of a 16 month old boy from Silsden over Christmas as part of a Westminster debate about Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood.

Mr Moore used the debate to highlighting the urgent need for further research, education and support for families affected.

Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood is the fourth leading category of death in England and Wales for children aged 1-4 years old.

During the debate, Mr Moore shared the heartbreaking story of a family from Silsden who lost their 16 month old son Jack who went to bed on Christmas Day six weeks ago and never woke up.

The MP called on the government to commit to ensure that further funding is put aside for research, alongside an awareness campaign and that further information on SUDC can be put into the public domain. He also called for an end to the disparity in research between SUDC and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Robbie Moore MP said: "SUDC is a tragic occurrence that affects too many families across our country. It is therefore absolutely vital that we increase awareness and support for research on SUDC so that we can identify preventative measures and provide answers to those affected by this devastating issue.

"Recently, I met with a family in the constituency who had tragically lost their beloved child at Christmas to unknown causes. It was heartbreaking to hear their story, and they were kind enough to allow me to share their tragic loss in a recent parliamentary debate.

"The government need to do all they can to help raise awareness about SUDC, and I will continue to push for progress in this area and stand with the families in my community and across the country who have been impacted by this devastating occurrence.”

Below is the transcript of Robbie Moore MP's comments during the Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday 17th January 2023:

"It is only right that I begin my contribution by telling the story of a family from Silsden in my constituency whom I had the pleasure of meeting just last Friday. Cheryl, a senior nurse in our local A&E department, and Darren, a local police officer, are incredibly loving parents to two wonderful children. On Christmas day, they put their loving, happy and fun-going little boy, Jack, who was only 16 months old, to bed, only for him not to wake the next morning. That is incredibly sad news, and it was undoubtably devastating for the family. One cannot pull together the words to express the deep sense of loss, anguish, grief and heartbreak that Cheryl and Darren will be feeling. Of course, this also has an impact on their older son, Louis, who has lost a brother he will now not be able to grow up with and share that unique brotherly bond with. Since Jack passed away only on Christmas day just past, the family have had no answers as to what has happened, and investigations are still ongoing.

"Sudden unexplained death in childhood is the fourth leading category of death for children aged one to four years old in England and Wales. Approximately 40 children are affected by SUDC in the UK each year—that is one to two seemingly healthy children passing away every fortnight, often going to sleep and never waking again. As we have heard, SUDC affects not just young children under one year old; more one to nine-year-olds die of sudden unexplained death than die as a result of road traffic accidents, drowning or fires.

"Published epidemiological data suggests a common profile for children affected by SUDC. Most commonly, they are one to two years old, they are male and, most worryingly, they are dying unwitnessed, alone as they sleep. The child’s development is usually normal and their vaccinations are up to date.

"Of course, as all of us have said, awareness is absolutely key, because if a parent, family member or friend does not know why the death has occurred, they will constantly ask, “Why?” Over 13,000 research papers have been published on sudden infant deaths. That has helped to pioneer safer sleep advice, which has led to an 80% decline in infant deaths. However, only 55 research papers have been written on SUDC.

"Last year, 8 December marked the publication of the groundbreaking report “Sudden and Unexpected Deaths in Infancy and Childhood” by the National Child Mortality Database—I have read it, and it is well worth reading, for those Members who wish to do so. It concludes that, of the sudden and unexpected deaths in 2020 that have been investigated and reviewed, 16% are still classified as unexplained. It provides greater awareness and accuracy around understanding exactly which of the many children who are affected by seizures are at risk. It helps to address some of the knowns but, as many of us have outlined, there are still many unknowns. That comes back to the issue of why research is so important. I ask the Minister what we are doing to increase that research, as well as awareness, training among medical professionals, and the public information out there.

"This is undoubtably a difficult topic to talk about, but we must never forget that at the heart of all this is the sad loss of a child. They leave behind a heartbroken family—parents, brothers, sisters and grandparents—and friends. In Jack’s case, he leaves behind a loving mother, father and three-year-old brother, Louis. I would like to thank them for their time in sharing their story and for educating me in the meeting I had with them last Friday."

 

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