The National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP) in England is led by Sands.
It is a nationally endorsed framework comprising nine evidence-based standards designed to ensure that bereaved families receive compassionate, consistent, and high-quality care following pregnancy loss or the death of a baby.
The aim of the NBCP is to provide the framework for high quality and equitable bereavement care delivered by the NHS. This consists of a set of standards focused on care and culture. The NBCP provides support to NHS England Trusts to embed these standards, including assessment tools so that services can evaluate the extent to which they are meeting core standards for bereavement care.
NBCP England provides tailored pathways for:
- Miscarriage, ectopic and molar pregnancy
- Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly
- Stillbirth
- Neonatal death
- Sudden unexpected death of an infant
Resources for healthcare staff
A suite of NBCP tools support Trusts to assess their bereavement care service against the bereavement care standards.
- The Compliance Verification Tool is designed to show NHS Trusts how to verify their compliance with the NBCP standards and should be used as a first step.
- The scored or reflective Self-Assessment Tool is designed to help Trusts evaluate and strengthen their bereavement care services in a structured and measurable way.
- The Evidence Library is designed to support Trusts in completing the compliance and self-assessment tools with confidence and consistency.
Resources for staff in England
How is the NBCP implemented in England?
The NBCP is mandated in NHS England’s Medium Term Planning Framework, which means that Integrated Care Boards and providers in England are expected to implement the principles and processes of the NBCP when caring for families experiencing stillbirth and neonatal death.
Partners and supporting organisations
NBCP England is supported by a range of partner organisations including:
The programme also works closely with the Royal Colleges and professional bodies, helping to align clinical practice, education and standards with national guidance.
Find out more
If you are working alongside bereaved families in England and would like to find out more about opportunities for professional development and service improvement please contact rebecca.ashley@sands.org.uk.
You can also sign up to Sands' Professionals Bulletin below. Sign up to our Professionals Bulletin