Ministers pledge to work together to deliver baby loss certificate scheme

Stormont’s Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt have pledged to work together to deliver a baby loss certificate scheme in Northern Ireland.

The ministers described the loss of a baby as devastating and said they want to ensure that all grief is recognised.

Under current legislation the death of a baby is only officially recognised if it occurs after the 24th week of pregnancy.

The UK Government launched a baby loss certificate scheme earlier this year designed to recognise the grief of parents who lose a baby early in a pregnancy.

The voluntary scheme offers a certificate to formally recognise the devastating impact on those who experience a loss within the first 24 weeks of gestation.

Ms Archibald and Mr Nesbitt issued the joint pledge during Baby Loss Awareness Week this week.

Ms Archibald said her department will introduce new legislation to enable the scheme.

“I am committed to implementing a baby loss certificate scheme. I want all parents and families who have suffered the devastating loss of a baby to feel that their grief is recognised,” she said.

“My department will introduce new legislation to enable a baby loss certificate scheme for losses prior to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

“We will continue to work with the Department of Health on this important initiative.”

Mr Nesbitt added: “I recognise the trauma and pain of pregnancy and baby loss, and the enormous impact this can have on parents.

“I am working closely with the Finance Minister and we have agreed to continue progressing the necessary scoping work with a view to establishing a baby loss certificate scheme here as soon as possible.”

Kate Mulley, director of research, education and policy at Sands (The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity), said baby loss certificates can be vitally important for bereaved parents and families.

“We hear from the many thousands of parents we support that having this formal recognition of their baby is very important to them,” she said.

“When a life is so short, there are few opportunities for creating memories and parents may greatly value the few keepsakes of their baby that they are able to keep.

“We would welcome the introduction of baby loss certificates in Northern Ireland, and are here to support anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby, however recently or longer ago, for as long as they need this.”

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan reiterated calls this Baby Loss Awareness Week 9-15 October, for a recognition scheme that would allow parents to register the loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks.

The Foyle MLA said: “Today, parents in England will now be able to apply for certificate to officially recognise the loss of their baby before 24-weeks pregnancy. Parents in the North still miss out on this opportunity.

“This is a small but incredibly important acknowledgment for families that their little one existed and could help in some small way, to provide comfort amid their grief. The Assembly supported the introduction of this provision back in April.

“Currently, there is a notable lack of support for bereaved parents something which I’ve been working to change, including improving access to bereavement midwives as well as signposting to available aftercare and support. Unfortunately, it’s been the experience of some bereaved parents that they’ve been left in limbo, struggling with their grief in silence. Giving period parents the option of a certificate to record their baby loss before 24 weeks may help validate their loss and provide comfort at a dark time.

“I hope the rollout of the scheme in England will help to inform and expedite the implementation of a scheme for the North. I’ll continue to engage with the Minister of Health and Minister of Finance and hope to see progress on this provision soon.”