On Wednesday, less than two days after returning from their summer break, MPs were debating baby loss in parliament.
There was a strong turnout from across parties, and many MPs shared their personal experiences. Others shared the experiences of bereaved parents in their constituency. This is powerful to see, and we know it can lead to change.
Some MPs had also invited bereaved parents from their constituencies along to watch, including Maria Gormley, a volunteer from Clacton Sands.
The debate picked up on many key issues linked to baby loss and maternity, neonatal and bereavement care. Here are a few highlights.
We were pleased to see many MPs highlighting the importance of the need to extend the national ambition to reduce baby deaths (introduced by the last Government) beyond its current 2025 deadline. This included new MP, Andy MacNae who also stressed that the Government must take urgent action to reduce inequalities in baby loss, and the importance of our End Inequality In Baby Loss campaign.
He also urged the Government to consider making the National Bereavement Care Pathway mandatory and providing the funding needed by NHS trusts to fully implement it, so all bereaved parents can access the compassionate care they need.
Sharon Hodgson MP, called for action to address the increase in the neonatal mortality rate and the pre-term birth rate, which is linked to a high variation in care.
Olivia Blake MP highlighted the stark fact that “50% of people will be affected by baby loss during their lifetime, either personally or through someone they know”. She welcomed recent progress in improving miscarriage care and urged further action from the Government on this.
Helen Morgan MP, responded for the Liberal Democrats highlighting the need to keep a focus on staffing in maternity services. She also emphasised that lessons must be learnt across the NHS when mistakes have been made and babies have died.
Dr Caroline Johnson MP, shadow health minister responding for the opposition, urged for the progress on reducing baby deaths in recent years to be built on.
There were also strong calls for an ambition to reduce baby deaths in Northern Ireland from MPs representing constituencies there. Many MPs also praised valuable support for bereaved parents from local organisations in their areas, and the constituents who shared their experiences with them.
In response to the debate, health minister Karin Smyth MP was very clear that “The Government’s position is that any preventable death is unacceptable. We are committed to ensuring that all baby deaths that can be prevented will be prevented.”
These are strong words which we hope to see followed up by bold action. However, the activity listed by the minister to reduce preventable baby deaths was strikingly similar to that already in place under the last Government, which we know wasn’t enough.
As stated in the Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit 2024 Saving Babies Lives Progress report “we need a much more transformative approach from government that matches the scale and impact of the issue”. However, we are still very early in the term of this new government - the opportunity to take much bolder transformative action to ensure that more babies’ lives are saved is there, and we are calling on them to take it.