AQW 5504/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health (i) when the Public Health Agency will update its advice on bedsharing with infants to be in line with NHS advice; and (ii) what the timescale is for the removal of previous advice.
Asked by Paula Bradshaw MLA on 5 February 2024
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 5 February 2024
- Answer due by
- 20 February 2024
- Answered
- 12 February 20247 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The current Public Health Agency (PHA) guidance, revised in October 2022, is in line with NHS guidance. The information contained in the books “Birth to Five” (2023) and “The Pregnancy Book” (2023), which are issued to all expectant and new parents also contain the same advice relating to safer bedsharing as the recently published NHS guidelines.
However, following the recent media publicity relating to safer bedsharing, the PHA is planning to review and further update its guidance within the next few weeks.