What plans does the Welsh Government have to introduce baby-loss certificates, which have recently been accepted and are being introduced in England?
Baby loss at any stage of pregnancy is distressing and I recognise the impact it can have on the entire family. The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring every family is appropriately and compassionately supported and understands the importance for parents to have their pregnancy loss formally recognised.
On 22 February 2024, the UK Government launched a voluntary scheme to allow parents whose baby died before 24 weeks of pregnancy to apply for a free certificate to provide recognition of their loss. This is currently available to any parent who has experienced a loss before 24 weeks in England since 01 September 2018. The UK Government plans to extend the eligibility criteria when it is able to do so.
My officials are working closely with their UK Government counterparts to understand this process and explore the possibility of extending across Wales. Currently, all families who experience pregnancy loss at maternity units in Wales are supported by bereavement midwives, and in conjunction with the Sands charity are offered memory boxes which include a commemorative “birth certificate”. We are also collaborating with parent organisations including Sands and experts in this area to implement the National Bereavement Care Pathways across Wales specifically for miscarriage, stillbirth and pregnancy loss.