A HOSPITAL trust’s pioneering package of support for staff who suffer pregnancy loss featured in Government report calling for national change.
Birmingham Women’s and Children NHS Foundation Trust’s (BWC) 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) 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 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 the Trust and 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.
The Trust 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 the 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, the 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.”
Almost 12 months ago, BWC opened a 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.
