It is shocking but not surprising to learn that infant mortality rates in Bradford are once again highlighted as a cause for concern.

While the Comprehensive Area Assessment is the latest report to focus on the problem, it is by no means the first.

As far back as 2006 this issue was flagged up by the Infant Mortality Commission which put forward ten areas for action to tackle the problem.

And as recently as April of this year, the fact that the proportion of babies who die before their first birthday was significantly higher in Bradford than in the rest of the country was front-page news in the Telegraph & Argus.

However, just because we are familiar with this situation does not mean that it is in any way acceptable. It is not. It is appalling.

So what can be done about it?

Firstly, this most recent assessment found that public services still haven’t put together a joint plan to make sure that the right things happen at the right time. That must change.

But it also seems fair to see high infant mortality rates as a consequence, to some significant extent, of social deprivation.

And that being so, could there be a more compelling argument for this area being at the front of the queue when it comes to the allocation of resources by the Government?