Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to ensure that affected women and their partners have access to bereavement counselling after early miscarriage.

The mandate to NHS England makes it clear they should ensure the National Health Service meets the needs of each individual with a service where people’s experience of their care is seen as an integral part of overall quality.

It is for the NHS locally to ensure appropriate facilities and services are in place to support parents following pregnancy loss. To assist NHS commissioners and providers, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ Standards for Gynaecology and Standards for Maternity (2008) sets out clear standards for the level of care provided to help women and their partners experiencing pregnancy loss, including the availability of skilled staff to support parents following a stillbirth or miscarriage. In addition, the Department has supported the publication of Health Building note 09-02, which sets out guidance on the planning and design of maternity care facilities, including the facilities available for women and families who suffer bereavement at any stage of pregnancy.