BBK attends Baby Loss APPG meeting to improve support for bereaved families
Calls for paid bereavement leave and better access to miscarriage care were among the issues raised at the latest meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Baby Loss.
My colleague and I attended the APPG meeting in Parliament last week, chaired by Andy MacNae MP, which brought together campaigners, charities and parents affected by baby loss.
It was an incredibly moving meeting, with women sharing the emotional realities of baby loss and the difficulties they had faced when seeking care and support.
At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we support families affected by baby loss where there are concerns about medical negligence, so it is important for us to attend meetings like this to advocate for improvements in the care available to bereaved families.
Improving bereavement leave for parents
One of the key topics discussed was the introduction of a new statutory entitlement to bereavement leave for parents who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.
From April 2027, eligible employees are expected to be entitled to up to two weeks of unpaid bereavement leave following pregnancy loss.
This is an important step towards recognising the devastating impact that pregnancy loss can have on families, regardless of when it occurs.
However, concerns were raised that unpaid leave may not provide sufficient support, particularly for those who cannot afford to take time away from work without pay. Whilst the introduction of statutory leave is welcome, ensuring that parents can access paid bereavement leave would provide greater protection.
Improving miscarriage care and access to support
Another important discussion focused on the need to improve access to medical care following miscarriage.
The charity Tommy’s highlighted the difficulties in collecting reliable data on miscarriage, with many losses going unreported. This makes it harder to understand the true scale of pregnancy loss and identify where improvements in care are most urgently needed.
There was also strong agreement among those attending that women should not have to experience three miscarriages before receiving appropriate medical investigations and support.
Tommy’s has developed a Graded Model of Miscarriage Care, which proposes a more personalised approach to care, with support and investigations increasing according to a person’s individual circumstances and pregnancy history.
The model recognises that support should be available following a first miscarriage, rather than requiring women to experience repeated losses before receiving help.
Ensuring the National Maternity Plan includes early pregnancy loss
The meeting also highlighted the importance of ensuring that the Government’s National Maternity Plan addresses pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.
Whilst improving maternity services is essential, it is equally important that those experiencing miscarriage and early pregnancy loss are not overlooked.
Families should be able to access compassionate, consistent and appropriate care, regardless of the stage of pregnancy at which their loss occurs.
Turning discussions into meaningful change
Hearing directly from women who had experienced baby loss was a powerful reminder of why these changes are so important.
Although progress is being made, more needs to be done to ensure that families experiencing pregnancy loss receive the medical care, emotional support and workplace protections they need.
It was encouraging to see charities, campaigners and parliamentarians coming together to push for improvements, and we hope that these discussions lead to meaningful change for bereaved families.
