Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about miscarriage and its place in the forthcoming Women’s Health Strategy.
Miscarriage is devastating and it is vital that it has a prominent place in the forthcoming Women’s Health Strategy. Sadly, an estimated one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage and I offer my sympathy to anyone who has experienced this. In recent years, MPs on both sides of the House have noted Baby Loss Awareness Week and have made very moving contributions to debates. I hope that these debates have emphasised the focus on this issue in Parliament, the Department of Health and Social Care, as well as the NHS, and moreover have also sent a message to bereaved families - that Parliament truly does understand the effect of miscarriage.
In March 2021, the public were asked for their views on the first-ever government-led Women’s Health Strategy for England. Nearly 100,000 responses from women across the country were submitted, informing the Government’s vision for a new healthcare system. The category, "fertility, pregnancy, pregnancy loss and post-natal support" was listed as a priority area and a key theme that respondents picked for inclusion in the Women’s Health Strategy.
The Government has confirmed that fertility, pregnancy, pregnancy loss and post-natal care will be priority areas in the forthcoming Women’s Health Strategy,
As part of its response, the Government indicated that it would consider how to strengthen healthcare support for women and their partners affected by pregnancy loss and consider the recommendations of the forthcoming Pregnancy Loss Review The Pregnancy Loss Review: Terms of Reference (publishing.service.gov.uk). The Government has also announced that the Women’s Health Strategy would include data on miscarriages, as well as the 24/7 availability of emergency miscarriage services.
The Strategy will be published later this year after which the Government’s ambitions will be set out in more detail.
Thank you for taking the time to contact me.
Sincerely,
