This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Access to specialist mental health support for bereaved parents after baby loss.
Bereaved parents who develop psychiatric illnesses are struggling to access timely mental health support. We urge the Government to fund specialist psychological support for bereaved parents, that is currently only available to mothers who have a living baby after child birth.
More details
In September 2019 our baby daughter sadly died. We were informed by our perinatal team that because our baby died we were no longer under their remit. We have since been diagnosed as suffering from PTSD due to birth trauma.
Maternity, perinatal and mental health services should not exclude bereaved parents who need access to good quality psychological support on the NHS.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Related activity
MPs to debate the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on people experiencing baby loss
MPs will debate the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on people experiencing baby loss this Thursday 5 November in Westminster Hall. The subject of the debate has been determined by the Backbench Business Committee.
This will be a general debate. General debates allow MPs to debate important issues, however they do not end in a vote nor can they change the law.
The debate will start at 1.30pm and last for 90 minutes.
Watch here this Thursday: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/7b033a10-426e-44e5-b6b1-0b344af98da0
Find out more about how Parliamentary debates work: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/
Find out more about the Backbench Business Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/202/backbench-business-committee/
MPs debate the impact of baby loss, and support for those affected
On 23 September, MPs took part in a 'general' debate to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week. The debate was led by Cherilyn Mackrory MP, and Health and Social Care Minister Maria Caulfield MP responded for the Government.
Watch the debate: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/2aad47cc-e48a-4742-a47b-c78cfaf9d5f6?in=12:50:41
Read the transcript: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-09-23/debates/00EC198A-02EF-4117-8426-0193A3B1E6E0/BabyLossAwarenessWeek
During the debate, MPs discussed the impact that the loss of a baby can have, with several sharing their own personal experiences. They also discussed actions the Government could take to improve the support available to those affected.
What are 'general' debates?
General debates allow MPs to debate important issues, and put their concerns to Government Ministers. They do not, however, end in a vote and nor can they change the law.
MPs debate baby loss and safe staffing in maternity care
MPs debated baby loss and safe staffing in maternity care on Tuesday 25 October in Westminster Hall. The debate was led by Jill Mortimer MP.
During this debate MPs talk about their own and other's experience of baby loss, which you might find distressing.
What is a Westminster Hall debate?
Westminster Hall is the second chamber of the House of Commons. Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local and national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Westminster Hall debates are general debates that do not end in a vote.
Find out more about Westminster Hall debates