Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with [i] the NHS and [ii] baby loss organisations about the [a] impact of baby loss on fathers and [b] support services needed to support those fathers.

We recognise that baby or pregnancy loss can be extremely difficult for fathers and partners.

While my Rt. Hon. Friend, the current Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not had any discussions to date specifically with the National Health Service or baby loss organisations about the impact of baby loss on fathers or support services, previous ministerial engagement has included meetings with bereaved fathers as part of wider engagement with families.

Fathers and partners can receive evidence-based assessment and support through Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services. Some NHS trusts also work with Home Start UK’s Dad Matters project to support paternal mental health.

Additionally, all NHS England trusts have signed up to the National Bereavement Care Pathway, which acts as a set of standards and guidance aimed at ensuring all families, including fathers and partners, receive consistent, individualised and sensitive care.