Baby Loss Awareness Week

Debate between Patricia Gibson and Sarah Champion

Tuesday 8th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Champion (Rotherham) (Lab)]

Before this job, I ran a children’s hospice. We were able to provide wraparound care to the whole family. We worked with hundreds of families in my time there, and I am really proud to say that because of that care, not one family separated.

[Patricia Gibson]

I thank the hon. Lady for her intervention. That is the kind of support we need to put in place, and I am about to talk about wraparound care.

We know that bereaved parents are more likely to develop depression and other mental health issues, perhaps turning to drink or other forms of self-medication, because we know that those who experience stillbirth or baby loss are at a higher risk of mental health challenges. Given what we know, there is really no excuse not to have measures in place in this awful eventuality for those affected by baby loss. The aftermath of baby loss is no more or less traumatic for those affected than living through the immediate experience and the years following it.