Birmingham hospital trust welcomes baby loss leave for all

Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, which was the first NHS organisation to give staff paid leave after pregnancy loss, has welcomed a Government announcement extending bereavement leave to parents who lose a baby.

The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has announced that employees who lose their baby will be entitled to two weeks' bereavement leave.

Leading the way since 2021

The trust introduced its own support package in 2021, working with trade unions and midwifery specialists. It covers staff affected by pregnancy loss, ectopic pregnancy and medical termination, and those who are intended parents through surrogacy. NHS staff across England have since been given similar support.

Raffaela Goodby, Chief People Officer at the trust, said: "As a specialist centre supporting families who experience pregnancy loss, we led from the front to ensure our 6,000 staff had time to start to process the physical and emotional impact of losing their much-wanted baby."

She added: "We are immensely proud of the part we and our Trade Unions have played in raising awareness, breaking taboos and bringing about change."

Support for families

The trust runs several services for bereaved families. Magnolia House at Birmingham Children's Hospital and Woodland House at Birmingham Women's Hospital offer private spaces where families can spend time together and receive support. The Rainbow Clinic cares for people who are pregnant again after a previous loss.

How common is pregnancy loss?

Miscarriage is common. The NHS estimates that around one in eight known pregnancies ends in miscarriage, most of them in the first three months. Many people return to work without any time to grieve, which campaigners say can harm their mental and physical health.

Getting help

Charities including the Miscarriage Association, Sands and Tommy's offer information and support to anyone affected by pregnancy or baby loss, including partners and wider family.