After a period of overall decline in the stillbirth rate in Wales since 2010, there has been little change since 2018. In 2023, the stillbirth rate was 4.0 per 1,000 births. This is higher than any of the other UK nations.

There has been little progress to reduce neonatal mortality in Wales. Although the rate has declined 3.7% since 2010 overall, the rate in 2021 was higher than the rate in 2013, showing a lack of sustained progress.

More investment is needed to reduce rates of stillbirth and neonatal death, tackle inequalities and support improvements in the safety and quality of services.

Investment in maternity and neonatal services has not kept up with the rate of inflation over recent years, and spending in this area has remained a relatively small proportion of overall spending on healthcare in Wales.