STAND UP for Tiny Lives Campaign- FAQs

1 ) Who is Action Medical Research?

  • Action Medical Research is a UK based medical charity that has been in existence nearly 60 years.
  • Action Medical Research has supported many breakthroughs made by researchers as key funders in the development of the UK polio vaccine, the first hip replacement surgery and the use of folic acid supplements during pregnancy for preventing spina bifida.
  • A recent focus of our fundraising has been supporting research into premature birth and pregnancy complications.

2 ) How big a problem is premature birth?

  • Each year approximately 50,000 babies are born prematurely.
  • Tragically, more than 25 babies die each week in the UK as a result of complications arising from premature birth.
  • Doctors still don’t why premature birth occurs and have limited ways to prevent labour once it has started.

3 ) Why is Action Medical Research campaigning on this subject?

  • One family told us that they had lost three babies to complications arising from premature birth; many such families have been in touch with us.
  • In the past three years, Action Medical Research has funded over four million pounds worth of research in the UK into premature birth and pregnancy complications.
  • This has started 40 new research projects at universities and hospitals around the UK.
  • Action Medical Research is calling on all politicians to back our call for the government to urgently develop a 10-year National Research Strategy for premature birth.
  • Such a strategy would aim to improve understanding of premature birth, in order to be able to reduce the numbers of babies born too soon, all the while optimising maternal and infant health.

4 ) Where does the campaign get its legitimacy?

  • The STAND UP for Tiny Lives Campaign has at its heart a steering group comprising 15 parents of premature babies and 15 of the UK’s top clinicians and researchers involved in premature birth.
  • All major decisions made by the campaign are made in consultation with this group.

5 ) Who is supporting the campaign?

  • Nearly 2000 members members of the public are calling for action on premature birth on the STAND UP website with a further 7000 on STAND UP for Tiny Lives facebook group
  • Over 140 MPs now back our call for a 10-year National Research Strategy for premature birth.
  • Many organizations representing doctors, nurses, midwives and researchers are also backing the campaign - see the complete list here

6 ) Will this divert money from care of premature babies?

  • We believe not - as research money is allocated from ringfenced government budgets
  • Each year approximately 50,000 babies are born prematurely.
  • The earlier a child is born the more likely the child is to experience lifelong health complications.
  • Were more babies born at term, Action Medical Research believe there would be benefits for all concerned; families, the NHS and the public purse.

7 ) So are you just calling for more money?

  • Action Medical Research is calling on government to urgently develop a 10-year National Research Strategy for premature birth to improve understanding of the causes of premature birth and so optimise maternal and infant health
  • We believe such a strategy would not only help improving coordination between existing research projects, but would also need to look at making more data available to researchers on pregnancies in England and Wales and also the use of samples.