PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Miscarriage: Mental Health Services (5 December 2023)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the (a) adequacy of the level of mental health support available to bereaved parents following miscarriage and baby loss and (b) potential merits of allocating additional resources for such care.

Asked by:
Navendu Mishra (Labour)

We are committed to expanding and transforming mental health services in England so that people, including those affected by a miscarriage or the loss of a baby, can get the help and support that they need, when they need it.

The Pregnancy Loss Review was published earlier this year and made 73 recommendations on improving the care and support women and families receive when experiencing a pre-24-week gestation baby loss. Our response sets out in detail what actions the Government intends to take immediately to progress 20 recommendations in relation to a number of key areas including bereavement.

As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, we are looking to improve the access and quality of perinatal mental health care for mothers and their partners. As of February 2023, there were 35 Maternal Mental Health Services, which provide 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.

Answered by:
Maria Caulfield (Conservative)
20 December 2023