PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Miscarriage: Bereavement Counselling (4 December 2023)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department is taking steps to improve the provision of (a) mental health support and (b) other care for patients who have experienced early pregnancy loss.

Asked by:
Navendu Mishra (Labour)

The Department’s response to the Pregnancy Loss Review sets out what actions the Government intends to take to improve the care and support women and families receive when experiencing a pre-24-week gestation baby loss. We are committed to expanding and transforming mental health services in England so that people, including those affected by the loss of a baby or traumatic birth, can get the help and support that they need, when they need it.

As of February 2023, there were 35 Maternal Mental Health Services, which combine maternity, reproductive health and psychological therapy for women experiencing mental health difficulties related to their maternity experience. Services in each integrated care system area are due to be operational by March 2024.

The Government funded the Stillbirths and Neonatal Death charity to work with other baby loss charities and Royal Colleges to produce and support the roll-out of a National Bereavement Care Pathway. The pathway covers a range of circumstances of a baby loss including miscarriage, stillbirth, termination of pregnancy for medical reasons, neonatal death and sudden infant death syndrome.

As of 1 January 2023, 108 National Health Service trusts or 84% in England have committed to adopting the nine National Bereavement Care Pathway standards. 21 trusts and NHS England continue to push for their inclusion.

Answered by:
Maria Caulfield (Conservative)
22 December 2023