'End postcode lottery of miscarriage care': MP raises plight of Staffordshire couple in the Commons

An MP raised the experiences of a West Midland couple as he called for an end to the ‘postcode lottery’ of miscarriage and bereavement care during a parliamentary debate to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week.

Josh Newbury, MP for Cannock Chase, raised the case of a couple in his constituency, named Phil and Emma, who had experienced repeated pregnancy loss and difficulties accessing maternity care.

He said this had extended to emergency care when a past pregnancy had became unviable.

Mr Newbury highlighted the physical and emotional toll baby loss could have on families, and the importance of ensuring women received the care and support they needed throughout and after their pregnancy.

He said: “I’m incredibly grateful to Phil and Emma for trusting me and my team with their experiences.

“Sharing something so personal takes real courage, and I wanted to make sure their voices were heard in Parliament.”

Mr Newbury said the Government had introduced two weeks of unpaid leave for those who experienced pregnancy loss at any stage.

But he said more needed to be done to provide better care on the ground for families across the country.

“We now need to move as quickly as we can to ensure that every woman has access to high-quality miscarriage care and bereavement support, regardless of whether she lives in Cannock Chase, rural Northumberland or central London,” he said.

“No family should have to find out that the support available to them depends on their postcode. We have made important progress, and now we need to make sure that that progress is felt by every woman and every family who experience the heartbreak of losing their baby.”