Latest news with #MiscarriageA
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks to get bereavement leave
Ministers are set to amend the Employment Rights Bill so that people will be entitled to protected time off in the event of a pregnancy loss, regardless of the stage at which it happens. Angela Rayner has said that the change will give 'people time away from work to grieve'. Under current rules, parents are entitled to up to two weeks of bereavement leave if a child dies before they turn 18, or they experience a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, will see the right to 'at least one week's leave' expanded to people who lose a pregnancy before 24 weeks. The exact length of the leave will be specified in later legislation after a consultation. The Bill already makes provision to expand bereavement leave, giving employees protected time off to grieve the loss of a loved one. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said that the amendments will offer 'dignity and respect'. He says: 'For many families, including mine, that have been affected by pregnancy loss, the decision around returning to work or taking sick leave to grieve properly can make an already painful experience even more difficult. The Government has committed to granting bereavement leave to anyone affected by pre-24 week pregnancy loss. This is an important step forward, and we look forward to hearing the detail of how this will be implemented. Find out more: — Miscarriage Association (@MiscarriageA) March 11, 2025 'Grief doesn't follow a timetable, and expanding rights to leave for pregnancy loss will ensure every family gets the time they need to heal without worrying about their job.' Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner similarly said that 'no-one who is going through the heartbreak of pregnancy loss should have to go back to work before they are ready'. 'I am proud that this Government is introducing a day-one right to protected time off work after experiencing pregnancy loss, giving people time away from work to grieve and spend time with their families,' she said. Vicki Robinson, chief executive of the Miscarriage Association, welcomed the announcement, saying it was 'a hugely important step that acknowledges the often very significant impact of pre-24-week loss, not only for those experiencing the physical loss, but for their partners too'. It comes after ministers announced they would review the system of parental leave, declaring that the current system is 'not working' for families. Mr Reynolds said the Government will investigate the whole system for supporting new parents to take time off work when they have a baby, including maternity leave, paternity leave and shared arrangements. More than 100,000 Baby Loss Certificates have now been issued More than 100,000 baby loss certificates have now been issued to parents who have lost a pregnancy, allowing them to formally recognise their loss. Baby loss certificates offer a way of providing comfort and support to bereaved parents, who have gone through an unimaginable loss. They provide acknowledgement that their baby existed and mattered. Any parent can now also apply for a certificate following a loss before 24 weeks, or 28 weeks for a loss that happened before October 1992. Support groups have long campaigned for these certificates and have welcomed this news. Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron said: "Losing a pregnancy can be devastating, and it is important that bereaved parents have the option to formally recognise the existence of their babies. "I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of countless women who have spoken up about their experiences, and to campaigners for their perseverance and great work promoting this service. From meeting with them, I know there is much to do to improve services on the ground. "We will always listen to women and families as we reform our NHS and maternity services, to make sure everyone gets the care and compassion they deserve." Baby loss certificates were first launched in February 2024 but were only available to those who had experienced a loss since September 2018. The voluntary service was extended by this government in October 2024 to allow all parents to apply, no matter when they lost their baby. Sands' Chief Executive Clea Harmer said: "It's wonderful that baby loss certificates have enabled so many bereaved parents in England whose lives have been touched by pregnancy loss to get official recognition that their babies existed and matter. "The certificates are an important part of many people's bereavement journey, and while we recognise they are not something everyone wants, we would like all bereaved parents to have that choice. Sands is here to offer understanding and emotional support for every bereaved parent and family, for as long as they need this."
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks to get bereavement leave
Ministers are set to amend the Employment Rights Bill so that people will be entitled to protected time off in the event of a pregnancy loss, regardless of the stage at which it happens. Angela Rayner has said that the change will give 'people time away from work to grieve'. Under current rules, parents are entitled to up to two weeks of bereavement leave if a child dies before they turn 18, or they experience a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, will see the right to 'at least one week's leave' expanded to people who lose a pregnancy before 24 weeks. The exact length of the leave will be specified in later legislation after a consultation. The Bill already makes provision to expand bereavement leave, giving employees protected time off to grieve the loss of a loved one. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said that the amendments will offer 'dignity and respect'. He says: 'For many families, including mine, that have been affected by pregnancy loss, the decision around returning to work or taking sick leave to grieve properly can make an already painful experience even more difficult. The Government has committed to granting bereavement leave to anyone affected by pre-24 week pregnancy loss. This is an important step forward, and we look forward to hearing the detail of how this will be implemented. Find out more: — Miscarriage Association (@MiscarriageA) March 11, 2025 'Grief doesn't follow a timetable, and expanding rights to leave for pregnancy loss will ensure every family gets the time they need to heal without worrying about their job.' Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner similarly said that 'no-one who is going through the heartbreak of pregnancy loss should have to go back to work before they are ready'. 'I am proud that this Government is introducing a day-one right to protected time off work after experiencing pregnancy loss, giving people time away from work to grieve and spend time with their families,' she said. Vicki Robinson, chief executive of the Miscarriage Association, welcomed the announcement, saying it was 'a hugely important step that acknowledges the often very significant impact of pre-24-week loss, not only for those experiencing the physical loss, but for their partners too'. It comes after ministers announced they would review the system of parental leave, declaring that the current system is 'not working' for families. Mr Reynolds said the Government will investigate the whole system for supporting new parents to take time off work when they have a baby, including maternity leave, paternity leave and shared arrangements. More than 100,000 Baby Loss Certificates have now been issued More than 100,000 baby loss certificates have now been issued to parents who have lost a pregnancy, allowing them to formally recognise their loss. Baby loss certificates offer a way of providing comfort and support to bereaved parents, who have gone through an unimaginable loss. They provide acknowledgement that their baby existed and mattered. Any parent can now also apply for a certificate following a loss before 24 weeks, or 28 weeks for a loss that happened before October 1992. Support groups have long campaigned for these certificates and have welcomed this news. Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron said: "Losing a pregnancy can be devastating, and it is important that bereaved parents have the option to formally recognise the existence of their babies. "I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of countless women who have spoken up about their experiences, and to campaigners for their perseverance and great work promoting this service. From meeting with them, I know there is much to do to improve services on the ground. "We will always listen to women and families as we reform our NHS and maternity services, to make sure everyone gets the care and compassion they deserve." Baby loss certificates were first launched in February 2024 but were only available to those who had experienced a loss since September 2018. The voluntary service was extended by this government in October 2024 to allow all parents to apply, no matter when they lost their baby. Sands' Chief Executive Clea Harmer said: "It's wonderful that baby loss certificates have enabled so many bereaved parents in England whose lives have been touched by pregnancy loss to get official recognition that their babies existed and matter. "The certificates are an important part of many people's bereavement journey, and while we recognise they are not something everyone wants, we would like all bereaved parents to have that choice. Sands is here to offer understanding and emotional support for every bereaved parent and family, for as long as they need this."
