MP says all families should receive same level of care after baby loss
Cherilyn Mackrory spoke to us as we raise the issue of inequalities in bereavement support for grieving families
The Co-Chair of 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've been sharing stories of mums and partners who've gone through miscarriage, stillbirth and neo-natal death.
READ: Parents bravely share their Baby Loss stories
While many received crucial bereavement support, others 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've 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.
Baby Loss Awareness Week raises important issues
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"
READ: Access to bereavement care can be a 'postcode lottery'
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've been hearing 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.
WATCH: She's 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.
READ: Bereaved father urges grieving dads to open up
"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
There are organisations and resources available where you can get support if you've been affected by the issues raised in this article.
The Baby Loss Awareness Alliance has links to national and local services.