The loss of a baby at any stage of pregnancy is an unimaginable tragedy and our sympathies are with the families who have suffered baby loss.
In our manifesto, the SNP commits to developing and implementing a Women’s Health Plan aiming to improve services and reduce health inequalities for women and girls. It will establish a dignified, compassionate miscarriage service tailored to the needs of women, taking forward the findings of The Lancet report and supporting the development of individualised care plans after a woman’s first miscarriage.
We will also emulate New Zealand where families who experience miscarriage or stillbirth are entitled to 3 days of paid leave by delivering this within the public sector and calling on the UK Government to make the necessary changes to employment law to make it available for everyone.
It is essential that women and their families who have experienced a miscarriage are provided with the right information, care and support in a way that takes into account their individual circumstances.
This care and support should, where appropriate, include further investigation and counselling and all Health Boards should provide tailored miscarriage care to women in line with clinical guidance and as quickly as possible. All care decisions should be made in partnership with the woman and family. We expect all bereaved parents/women to receive high quality, sensitive bereavement care following a loss.
In recognition of the need for women and their families to receive consistent, high-quality and sensitive bereavement care, the SNP Scottish Government is continuing to fund and support Sands UK to develop national bereavement care pathways for pregnancy and baby loss in Scotland.
SNP MSP Shona Robison launched her ‘Changing Miscarriage Care’ campaign on 18 Sept 2020, which aims to remove the stigma surrounding miscarriages, and open a conversation about the devastating impact that miscarriage can have on women and men, who can often be left feeling unsupported or scared to speak out about their experience.
The SNP is firmly committed to providing the right support at the right time to women and their families who have sadly experienced a loss.
Fiona Hyslop