Birmingham Women’s and Children’s re-signs Miscarriage Association Pregnancy Loss Pledge
Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is proud to have signed Miscarriage UK’s Pregnancy Loss Pledge, reaffirming its commitment in supporting our staff, women and families in our care.
Chief People Officer Raffaela Goodby and Director of Midwifery Louisa Davidson signed the pledge on behalf of the Trust during Baby Loss Awareness Week (9 – 15 October), five years after we first made the commitment to work with The Miscarriage Association before they were renamed earlier this year.
The pledge asks employers to provide ongoing support for those affected by pregnancy loss, ensuring they have policies, informed line managers and a safe and welcoming workplace culture.
This includes having a clear policy and paid leave for those who experience miscarriage, a dedicated support contact, annual awareness training, manager support and flexible return-to-work support.
BWC is passionate about offering the very best care and support for the women and partners we care for and our own teams.
In 2021, the specialist Trust became the first in the NHS to offer staff who experience baby loss a unique support package, including paid leave, to any member of staff facing the heartbreak of losing their baby.
In partnership with Trade Unions and midwifery specialists, it introduced the policy to help colleagues, but also to break the stigma of talking about pregnancy loss, ectopic pregnancy, medical termination and intended parenting.
After its introduction, the Trust supported other organisations and, ultimately, the wider NHS, which introduced a model pregnancy loss policy, with paid leave for parents and partners for all its 1.6 million staff in England in 2024.
BWC has been proud to lead the way in specialist bereavement support for families and staff.
It is home to UK-first specialist bereavement centres with Magnolia House at the Children’s Hospital and Woodland House at the Women’s Hospital, funded by its Charity. The Trust also has a dedicated Rainbow Clinic, which supports those who have previously had a miscarriage through any future pregnancy.
This summer, a new service was launched in partnership with Petals for parents who have experienced baby loss during pregnancy or shortly after birth. It expands access to vital mental health support for bereaved parents across the West Midlands.
Researchers at the Trust also continue their work with the miscarriage charity Tommy’s.
Raffaela said: “We are immensely proud to reaffirm our commitment to those we care for and our colleagues by re-signing Miscarriage UK’s Pregnancy Loss Pledge during this Baby Loss Awareness Week.
“Over the last few years, working with our Trade Unions and partners, we have achieved so much, but we know there is still more to do. One in four pregnancies sadly ends in loss, and there remains a taboo in society around this important issue, which affects so many lives.”