Burnham backs bereavement leave for early pregnancy loss

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 17:57 · Archive

Andy Burnham has backed plans for women and partners to receive two weeks' bereavement leave after pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, from April.

Andy Burnham has backed plans to introduce two weeks' bereavement leave for women and their partners following pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, to begin in April. Parents experiencing such losses currently have no legal right to bereavement leave.

The announcement was made during Baby Loss Awareness Week. Burnham said the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce would lead reforms to improve maternity care, with an action plan due by the end of the year to raise standards and improve accountability.

Little Wings of Hope, a baby loss charity supporting bereaved families across Essex, welcomed the move. Leila Hobart, the charity's founder, said: 'At Little Wings of Hope, we welcome Andy Burnham's announcement as a positive step forward in recognising the devastating impact of pregnancy and baby loss. For too long, parents experiencing loss before 24 weeks have been left without a legal right to bereavement leave.'

Hobart emphasised that 'grief does not have a gestational age, and every parent deserves time to process their loss'. She stressed, however, that the plans represented 'a step forward, not a complete solution'.

A significant concern raised was that the proposed leave would be unpaid. Hobart said 'the fact that this leave is unpaid is deeply concerning', suggesting the charity believes additional support and safeguards are needed to make the entitlement truly effective for grieving families.

How it is being reported

• Essex groups back baby loss leave changes but call for more supportAndy Burnham backs two weeks’ bereavement leave for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks from April, Essex organisations speak out.Colchester Gazette · 17 Oct, 17:00
• Essex groups back baby loss leave changes but call for more supportAndy Burnham backs two weeks’ bereavement leave for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks from April, Essex organisations speak out.Echo (Basildon) · 17 Oct, 17:00
• Essex groups back baby loss leave changes but call for more supportAndy Burnham backs two weeks’ bereavement leave for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks from April, Essex organisations speak out.Brentwood Guardian · 17 Oct, 17:00

In this story: Andy Burnham · Little Wings of Hope · Leila Hobart · National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce · Essex · Colchester Hospital

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