BWC’s pioneering package of support for colleagues who suffer pregnancy loss featured in Government report calling for national change
Our Trust’s Pregnancy and Baby Loss policy, the first of its kind in our NHS when launched in 2021, has been cited in a Government report calling for positive change in national employment law.
A new report from the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) published today (Wednesday 15 January) states a period of paid leave “should be available to all women and partners who experience a pre-24-week pregnancy loss”, adding “the case for a minimum standard in law is overwhelming”.
BWC proudly led the way almost four years ago when, after listening to colleagues and those we care for, a package of support was launched including periods of paid leave, for families who are suffering baby loss or experience premature birth.
Since its introduction, the policy, produced jointly by our Trust and our Trade Union partners, has offered up to ten days paid leave for the person who was pregnant and up to five days paid leave for the partner.
In addition, staff are also offered paid time off for appointments linked to pregnancy loss and have a promise that all requests to work flexibly following a bereavement are treated with understanding and sensitivity.
We have also been supporting with efforts nationally pushing for positive change and, last year (2024), it was announced the policy was adopted nationally by our NHS.
This latest WEC report was put together after input by BWC with our impact report post-policy launch considered by the cross-party committee.
Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee , Sarah Owen MP, said: “Miscarriages and pregnancy losses can be devastating for women and their families with both emotional and physical consequences. As the data shows, such experiences are sadly not uncommon and yet current legislation has not caught up with this stark reality.
“The Committee’s report found many private sector employers, plus the NHS, the largest public sector employer of women, are successfully offering paid bereavement leave for those who miscarry, but provision is not universal.
“The case for a minimum standard in law is overwhelming. A period of paid leave should be available to all women and partners who experience a pre-24-week pregnancy loss. It’s time to include bereavement leave for workers who miscarry in new employment rights laws.
“WEC is calling on the Government to support our amendments, or bring forward its own, to ensure that all those who experience the physical and emotional pain and grief of pregnancy and baby loss are able to access the support they need.”
Raffaela Goodby, our Chief People Officer at BWC, has worked with colleagues at BWC and HR leads, trade unions, The Miscarriage Association and Tommy’s Charity over the last few years to support organisations in introducing more support for employees.
She said: “We’re immensely passionate and proud of our work when it comes to supporting members of our BWC family with love and compassion during the most heartbreaking and challenging of times.
“Since we launched our policy back in 2021 we’ve seen how such structured support can help those who experience baby loss. That help and compassion can have a lifelong impact.
“Everyone involved in making our policy a reality has also supported other organisations in implementing similar positive changes.
That compassion has driven us throughout and we’re delighted to see these latest recommendations from the Women and Equalities Committee to change employment laws nationally as it will make such a difference to so many people. Some, who because of the taboo that still exists around the subject, may be suffering in silence.”
Rachel Carter, Director of Midwifery and Deputy Chief Nurse (Women’s), said: “We care for many women and families every year at our Women’s Hospital who are living with the grief of losing their much-wanted baby through miscarriage.
“Seeing so many other organisations follow and put support in place, including our NHS, has been encouraging and, hopefully, these latest recommendations will support more families across the country.”
Janet Ballintine , Staffside Lead and Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Activist, said: “The RCM and Staffside were a joint partner in developing this policy at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s and ensuring this paid leave is available to all staff members who need it, at an incredibly difficult time of their lives. We welcome the national interest in the policy.”
BWC is proud to have taken the lead in the NHS on this matter and is passionate about increasing awareness of pregnancy loss and its impact.
Almost 12 months ago we opened our dedicated pregnancy and baby loss centre, Woodland House. The first of its kind in a UK hospital setting, the charitably-funded centre offers a safe haven for families experiencing the heartbreak of loss, allowing families to grieve in private, away from the busy main hospital.
The Trust continues to work alongside the Tommy Charity, which has a base at our Women’s Hospital, on pioneering research into new ‘graded models of care’.
Currently, families generally have to wait until they’ve experienced three miscarriages before they qualify for specialist care and support. Clinicians at our hospital are piloting a new system where care and support is offered after every miscarriage, with testing and investigations increasing with each loss.