Be Healthy Action Plan – Ensure that children are given the best chance for health from the start
The infant mortality rate is calculated as the number of deaths under 1 year of age per 1,000 live births. There are around 10 infant deaths each year in Gateshead, 6 in South Tyneside and 15 in Sunderland. As the numbers are small, a three year pooled rate is used which smooths out year on year fluctuations. In the most recent period (2003-2005) the rates for Gateshead and Sunderland are similar to the rate for England, while the rate for South Tyneside is lower than the England rate. None are significantly different from the England rate.
