An amazing fifty MPs attended an event in Westminster on 5 November hosted by Sands, Tommy’s and our Joint Policy Unit as part of our work to make pregnancy and baby loss the political priority it needs to be.
We spoke to MPs about our End Inequality In Baby Loss campaign which raises awareness of, and challenges, inequalities in our healthcare system to save more babies lives.
We were really pleased that Andy MacNae MP, the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Baby Loss, attended along with MPs from across the political spectrum, including Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrats), Kit Malthouse (Conservative) and Adrian Ramsay (Green Party).
"I’m here today because we lost our first child who was five days old, with Edward’s syndrome. So it’s an entirely personal thing for me. I want to see better support for people who have experienced miscarriage and baby loss – both during the process but also afterwards in terms of bereavement support, mental health support, and recognising that we can do so much more.
“There are tremendous inequalities around baby loss. The stats are very very clear. For starters, recognising that but then taking action, and I think that Sands and Tommys have put out clear proposals, clear pathways where we can address that. We just need to get behind those propositions."
- Andy MacNae, Labour MP for Rossendale and Darwen
(l-r) Andy MacNae MP (Labour) and Clea Harmer, Chief Executive of Sands
"It was really promising to hear how committed so many MPs are to making pregnancy and baby loss the political priority it needs to be, ending inequalities in baby loss, and saving babies' lives. By working together to raise these problems with politicians and other decision makers, we will build a more equitable system that gives all families the care they deserve.
"The Sands & Tommy's Joint Policy Unit is calling for the upcoming 10-year plan for the NHS to put in place new ambitions to save more babies’ lives, including a clear commitment to eliminate inequalities in baby loss, with action across government to make sure more progress is made.
"Change is possible. We know the current scale of pregnancy and baby loss is not inevitable. That is why we are working together, to save more babies’ lives and tackle inequalities."
- Clea Harmer, Sands' Chief Executive
Bereaved parents voices heard by MPs
Two important attendees at the event were Amarjit and Rosalyn, bereaved parents who have been closely involved in our campaign to End Inequality in Baby Loss. They shared their experiences with MPs and explained why ending inequality must be a political priority.
(l-r) Alison Bennett MP (Liberal Democrat), Helen Morgan MP (Liberal Democrat), bereaved parent Rosalyn Springer.
(l-r) Bereaved parent Amarjit Matharoo, bereaved parent Rosalyn Springer, Adrian Ramsay MP (Green Party co-leader).
Government should renew maternity safety ambitions
The Saving Babies’ Lives Progress Report 2024 highlighted that at least 1 in 5 stillbirths and neonatal deaths may have been prevented with better care, equating to over 800 babies’ lives from 2022 to 2023.
At the event staff from Sands, Tommy's and our Joint Policy Unit spoke to MPs about the urgent need to renew the National Maternity Safety Ambitions, which expire in 2025.
To save more babies’ lives we believe that the government should set new ambitions, with a deadline of 2035 to align with the 10 Year Plan for the NHS in England, that aim to match the best-performing countries in Europe.
The current ambition, which only applies to England, aimed to halve the 2010 rates of stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths and brain injuries and reduce the rate of preterm births from 8% to 6%.
However, recent data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that in 2023 the stillbirth rate in England remained at the same level as it was in 2022. This means that the 2025 target is unlikely to be met.
The 2035 ambitions should be:
• A stillbirth rate of 2.0 stillbirths per 1,000 total births.
• A neonatal mortality rate of 0.5 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births for babies born at 24 weeks’ gestation and over.
• A preterm birth rate of 6.0% by 2035, with disaggregated data for iatrogenic and
spontaneous preterm births.
• To eliminate inequalities in these outcomes based on ethnicity and deprivation.
• Establish routine data collection on miscarriages and once established, an ambition to reduce the miscarriage rate.
"Current ambitions to halve the 2010 rates of stillbirth and neonatal death are due to expire in 2025. We know from other countries that more progress is possible.
“The NHS 10 year plan is an opportunity to set new ambitions -focused on matching the best-performing countries in Europe, and eliminating inequalities.
“With political will we can save more babies’ lives, but achieving these ambitions will require much more comprehensive action from government.”
- Robert Wilson, Head of the Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit.
Download the full Joint Policy Unit briefing on the Maternity Safety Ambitions.
Sands campaigning to End Inequality in Baby Loss
In the UK, there are persistent inequalities in baby loss by ethnicity. If between 2017 and 2021, stillbirth & neonatal death rates had been the same for Black and Asian babies as white babies, 1,704 babies would have survived.
This is unacceptable. No baby should have an increased risk of dying because of their race or ethnicity. We must end these inequalities. MPs attending the event supported urgent action to end inequality in baby loss and save babies lives. You can add your voice too and join our #EndInequalityInBabyLoss campaign.
We are campaigning so that everyone gets the compassionate and personalised care they need. By doing this, we can make the UK one of the safest places in the world to have a baby.
Please add your voice and join our #EndInequalityInBabyLoss campaign.
We're here for you if you need support
Sands is here to support anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby, however recently or longer ago, for as long as they need this. Find out more about all the ways we support everyone affected by pregnancy and baby loss. You are not alone.