All families should receive same level of care after baby loss, Cornish MP says
Truro and Falmouth's Cherilyn Mackrory has spoken to us about her own experience
Last updated 14th Oct 2022
A Cornish MP, who co-chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Baby Loss says all families who experience the death of their child should be entitled to the same level of support, regardless of where they are from.
This week we have been sharing the stories of mums and partners who have gone through miscarriage, stillbirth and neo-natal death.
While many received crucial bereavement support, others have found their grief journey was made more difficult due to lack of training or facilities.
MP backs bereavement support calls
MP Cherilyn Mackrory spoke to us after hearing the stories we have shared and praised the bravery of those families for speaking out.
She said: "I'm so grateful that you are doing this, I think what your radio station is doing during Baby Loss Awareness Week is making it easier for people to talk".
Cherilyn has spoken in Parliament about her own experience of losing a child.
She went through a termination after finding out her baby had a severe disability in the womb.
When asked about the availability of services across the UK Cherilyn said: "I think it's something we could be doing better at and if we can make it the same everywhere, so every woman who goes through this, and every family that goes through this gets the same level of care. We need to resource it properly as well".
She added: "What I would like to see the Department (of Health) do is ensure it has to be the same in every single health trust around the country".
Benefits of Bereavement care investment
We have heard how investing in bereavement facilities and training can have a profound impact on families at the start of their grief journey.
Yvonne Morrison is Lead Specialist Bereavement Midwife at Medway Maritime Hospital.
She has been telling our Senior Correspondent, Mick Coyle, about the bereavement care they offer through their bereavement suite.
Minister responds to our coverage
Health Minister Robert Jenrick told us: "We want to see a consistent level of care across the NHS so that parents facing this very difficult situation get the quality of compassionate care they deserve."
He added: "We have invested £127m in maternity services across the country to increase staff numbers, recruit more midwives and other clinicians, and bolster leadership and culture within the NHS so when women find themselves in this situation we can reduce the risk of baby loss, better monitor pregnancies and handle the situation in the most compassionate way possible.
"Mental health service around England are also being expanded to include mental health hubs which will provide new services to expectant or bereaved mothers and offer physical health checks and psychological therapy in one building, so I think that will help as well".
Baby loss bereavement support
In Cornwall, Martyn Selley and his wife, Emmillee, set up Ella's Memory to help Royal Cornwall Hospital improve its support services after losing their little girl, Ella.
Treliske's Daisy Suite allows families a space in a bereavement suite, blessings for their lost babies, boxes to take home with them and other personalised items for women and families to keep.
However, there are calls for the hospital to offer separate spaces for follow-up appointments for those women who suffer baby loss in the early stages of pregnancy.
There are organisations and resources available where you can get support if you have been affected by the issues raised in this article.
The Baby Loss Awareness Alliance has links to national and local services.
Read More:
Cornwall mum who suffered two miscarriages calls for change to appointment settings
How Cornwall hospitals provide support for people experiencing baby loss