Very sadly we know that in some cases where babies die there has been a failure in duty of care.

We know that improving maternity safety is key to saving babies’ lives and that the current scale of pregnancy loss and baby deaths in the UK is not inevitable or acceptable . Research shows that at least 1 in 5 stillbirths and neonatal deaths may have been prevented with better care, equating to over 800 babies’ lives in 2022-23.

Listening to, and learning from, the experiences of bereaved parents is a crucial part of building understanding around why babies have died, and Sands plays a key role in ensuring that parents’ voices are always included in this work with governments and the NHS.

It is devastating when your baby dies. And we understand how complex this can be if you have  additional concerns about the care you and your baby received.

Sands wants to make sure that any parents who want to raise concerns about the care they and their baby or babies received, can do so confidently. Listening to parents can save lives if hospitals use these insights to improve their services for families in the future.

We are also here to support you at this really difficult time, alongside any legal processes or reviews you may be going through.

How to raise concerns after pregnancy or baby loss.

If you would like to raise concerns, give feedback or make a complaint after the death of a baby, we have a guide on how to do this.

You can also reach out to Sands’ Bereavement Support Services who can help guide you through the steps that you need to follow.

Whilst Sands is not qualified or resourced to provide individuals with legal advice, if you need this service please contact AvMA, the charity for patient safety and justice

AvMA champions the needs of people adversely impacted by avoidable medical harm, by supporting and empowering them to secure the outcomes they need, including healing for any related physical or psychological harm(s).

Sands are here to offer bereavement support to anyone who needs this, as we understand that the process of making complaints, and being involved in reviews of the care you received, can be an incredibly challenging and emotional process.

What we are doing to improve maternity and neonatal safety.

Time after time we have seen reviews and investigations into the safety of maternity and neonatal services consistently identifying the same themes.

Yet despite numerous policy initiatives and recommendations, mortality rates, safety and quality metrics, and patient and staff survey results all show that progress has been inadequate.

The Sands and Tommy's Joint Policy Unit (JPU) is focused on achieving the fundamental changes that are needed to save babies’ lives and reduce inequalities. Last year it published a report that made clear calls for action on NHS Board oversight, justice and learning.

Sands and the JPU have highlighted the failings of some NHS Trusts to be accountable, open and honest about their failings, and we’ve been calling for all Trusts to embed a culture that balances fairness, justice and learning.

For example, by strengthening the Duty of Candour and to make progress in developing nationally agreed standards of professional behaviour with appropriate sanctions. To support this, the JPU is running a call for evidence on what a safe system might look like, and the steps needed to get there, which draws on the key themes from recent reports and inquiries. We will use the findings to support our work to ensure that real progress is made.

Transformative change needed to improve maternity care