Karen Luyt
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karenluyt.bsky.social
Karen Luyt
@karenluyt.bsky.social
Professor of Neonatal Medicine - University of Bristol - improving outcomes for newborns. Director @ncmd.bsky.social & strategic clinical lead PERIPrem
Reposted by Karen Luyt
Some good maternity news: our study found that mums and premature babies now have more equitable access to a treatment that reduces the risk of cerebral palsy, following the PReCePT national care improvement programme. bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/15/3...
September 8, 2026 at 9:09 AM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
The Temporary Accommodation Notification Duty is now law!

We have produced training for local authority housing teams, school staff, GP staff and health visiting teams, outlining the new statutory duties and recommended steps for support services: sharedhealthfoundation.org.uk/temporary-ac...
September 1, 2026 at 7:53 AM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
The measles outbreak in Enfield saw 250 suspected cases - it began in a primary school with 40 unvaccinated cases then spreading into unvaccinated Somali and traveller families. Catch up clinics didnt work, but call / recall by GPs saw more vaccinations than any month since 2018
August 30, 2026 at 10:27 AM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
"There has to be a better way. There has to be better notification" - Siobhain McDonagh MP

From 1st of September, councils will have to tell schools, GPs & health visiting teams when a child is placed in temporary accommodation, improving outcomes for families and children experiencing homelessness
August 27, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
From the 1st of September, councils will have to tell schools, GPs and health visiting teams when a child is placed in temporary accommodation.

This new statutory duty is an important step towards better support and outcomes for families and children experiencing homelessness.
August 25, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
Children's health outcomes can be profoundly affected by housing instability.

❗️From 1st September, local authorities will be required to notify GPs when a child moves to temporary accommodation. GPs can then take practical steps to support children and families throughout their homeless journey.
August 25, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
In a new NCMD briefing we describe the characteristics of children who experienced sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, and unpack learning from the child death review process. Read it here: www.ncmd.info/publications...
Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Epilepsy
This National Child Mortality Database briefing provides data on deaths of children due to sudden and unexpected deaths in epilepsy (SUDEP)
www.ncmd.info
August 12, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
What role can paediatricians play in assessing internet use and its effect on children? In a new paper via @bmj.com we use the NCMD's unique data to dig into this very question: www.ncmd.info/publications...
Internet use in young people and its effect on mental health
This research explores the red flags of online interactions and intersectional risk factors, concerns often raised by paediatricians.
www.ncmd.info
August 12, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
In a new editorial via @bmj.com, @karenluyt.bsky.social, @sstoianova.bsky.social and others highlight the dangers of not having dose counters on UK asthma inhalers. A great example of how alerts from CDOP can be escalated and amplified in NCMD reports. adc.bmj.com/content/earl...
Counting down to disaster: the dangers of not having dose counters on UK asthma inhalers
Dose counters provide a simple yet critical safety feature on asthma inhalers. They indicate how many doses remain and alert users when a replacement inhaler is required. Many dry powder inhalers (DPI...
adc.bmj.com
July 29, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
"Every 1% increase in military spending drives a 0·62% reduction in public health spending."

On the cover, a new letter examines the relationship between military spending and public health expenditure during conflicts.

Find out more in our latest issue: spkl.io/63325ANG6W
April 10, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
In a new protocol paper via @bmj.com we explore how the NCMD’s unique data can be used to shine a light on the wider determinants of child #road fatalities, and what opportunities exist to prevent deaths of this kind. More: www.ncmd.info/publications... #roadsafety
The determinants of child road fatalities
This study aims to understand the wider determinants of child road fatalities in England and find opportunities for prevention.
www.ncmd.info
July 28, 2026 at 7:25 AM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
Child death is one of the hardest things clinicians deal with. In this blog via @rcpch.bsky.social, @vsleap.bsky.social and @sstoianova.bsky.social outline the positive impacts of contributing to child death review: www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/...
How the National Child Mortality Database in England (NCMD) can make learning from every child death count – patient safety spotlight
This blog explores how insights from child death reviews, brought together by the NCMD, can help clinicians turn difficult experiences into learning that improves care and prevents future deaths.
www.rcpch.ac.uk
July 23, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
We echo @rcpch.bsky.social's call for stronger quality, collection and sharing of child health data, published today in their State of Child Health report. It's fantastic to see our work cited, but more and better data is needed to address the issues highlighted. www.rcpch.ac.uk/work-we-do/s...
State of Child Health
In 2026 children’s health is in decline. Across nearly all major measures, outcomes have worsened or stagnated across the UK, reversing years of progress, and the impact is felt most sharply in depriv...
www.rcpch.ac.uk
July 14, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
More signs of resurging HIV after USAID’s closure. African Neonatal Network reported at IMNCH (a global health conference): HIV+ pregnant women ↑50% & those not on antiretrovirals ↑>300%, year-on-year, across 22 hospitals in 5 nations. @vtoxfordnetwork.bsky.social
July 13, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
More children in the UK are dying in their first year of life than in almost all other European coutries. The @rcpch.bsky.social warns UK must do more to protect children's health:
www.thetimes.com/article/c3b1...
Why are so many of us too ill to work? It goes back to childhood
A top doctor says the evidence is now clear: poor mental and physical health in childhood carries into adult life
www.thetimes.com
July 5, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
“There isn’t a biological reason. We've done something to the environment we are living in that’s making us ill. Infant mortality is in many ways the litmus test. It’s the red flag, the canary in the cage that people should be really worried about" - Steve Turner @rcpch.bsky.social president
July 5, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
Along with UCLPartners we are pleased to share the new edits of our videos on safer sleep and reducing accidents, which are bite-sized and ideal for families and carers. Find them here: www.ncmd.info/videos/child...
Safer sleep and reducing accidents: key messages for parents
In this video training Dr Carly Fertleman unpacks key points for families emerging from NCMD research into child deaths
www.ncmd.info
June 11, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
If you couldn't make it to Prague to see @sstoianova.bsky.social and @emilytammam.bsky.social address the 20th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care, don't worry - you can now watch the presentation on our website: www.ncmd.info/videos/co-pr...
Bringing Humanity to Data
This webinar explores how co-production can ensure that data is presented in a way that is relevant to lived experience.
www.ncmd.info
June 8, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
Every summer I repost this article on how to spot drowning. Please read it and pass on. In the last few years I’ve had SIX messages from people who saved a kid’s life after clicking on the link from my feed.

slate.com/technology/2...
Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning
Drowning is not the violent, splashing call for help that most people expect.
slate.com
May 23, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
Alongside UCL Partners we have developed a set of video resources for professionals that set out the key messages that need to be shared with parents to promote safer sleep and to reduce accidents. Please watch and share to your networks! www.ncmd.info/videos/child...
Reducing the risk of child death: Key messages for parents
In this video training Dr Carly Fertleman unpacks key points for families emerging from NCMD research into child deaths
www.ncmd.info
May 18, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
🌎 International survey on management of periviable infants (22–23 weeks)

✅ 193 responses
✅ 40 countries

However, responses from Europe are still limited.

If you work in neonatal care in Europe, we would greatly appreciate your participation & sharing.

📅 May 31, 2026
Thank you to colleagues around the world for supporting our international survey on periviable infants (22–23 weeks).

Current status:
🌎 40 countries
📝 193 responses

We truly appreciate your participation and sharing.

The survey is still open until May 31, 2026.
May 15, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
We are so grateful to everyone who chatted to us, pored over our publications and completed our stand experience at #rcpch26! We are already looking forward to next year - so if you have any feedback on our stand, please let us know below 👇 #ncmdatrcpch
May 13, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
We were pleased to meet Rohini Rattihalli at #rcpch26 this afternoon, where she'll be presenting work on epilepsy using the NCMD's unique data. #ncmdatrcpch
May 12, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
Great to see so much analysis based on NCMD's unique data presented at #rcpch26 - including this from Dr David Odd on our work concerning life limiting conditions. #ncmdatrcpch
May 11, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by Karen Luyt
The NCMD team were glad to catch up with @emmablake4.bsky.social, who so compellingly presented our data in this morning's plenary. #ncmdatrcpch #rcpch26 @sstoianova.bsky.social @karenluyt.bsky.social
May 11, 2026 at 2:40 PM