Borders stillbirth rates remain highest in Scotland

But bosses at NHS Borders are confident they can end the recent trend.

During 2015/16 of the 974 baby births in the Scottish Borders a total of five stillbirths were recorded.

And the previous year six of the 919 births were stillborn.

The proportional rates, of 5.1 per 1,000 births and 6.5 per 1000, for both years were the highest in Scotland and almost double the national average.

Bosses within the obstetrics department at NHS Borders are aware of the high rates.

A spokeswoman told us: "Firstly we wish to publicly express our condolences to families who have experienced the tragedy of a stillbirth.

"NHS Borders is a relatively small health board and our incidence of stillbirth is low, each taken very seriously.

"A small difference in numbers makes a big change in the rate, such as with the 2015 figures just published. Each one though, a personal tragedy.

"Although many stillbirths and neonatal deaths have no underlying reason, we undertake a detailed local review to try and assess whether the deaths were potentially avoidable or identify any local factors that may help explain them.

"In the rare event that a review finds that there is any aspect of care that could be improved upon, this information would be shared with the family, and the recommendations from the review are fully implemented."

Improvements in monitoring and awareness across Scotland has seen stillbirth rates steadily drop from a recent high of 6.1 per 1,000 (322 deaths) in 2004 to 2.7 (148 deaths) last year.

But for six of the past seven years NHS Borders has recorded rates above the national average.

Maternity bosses at Borders General Hospital are confident that their current care and procedures will see death rates come down.

The spokeswoman added: "Our current rate for this year is low and is likely to be much lower than the Scottish average.

"We continue to focus on giving pregnant women and their babies the best possible care."