NCT urges MPs to attend key parliamentary debate on baby loss

This key debate coincides with Baby Loss Awareness Week, which runs annually between the 9th-15th October. This week provides a crucial opportunity to raise awareness of the impact of baby loss on women and parents across the UK and to advocate for improved support and care for mothers, birthing people and partners, as well as policy change.

The debate will focus on the experiences of bereaved and harmed parents, the importance of compassionate care, and the need to tackle the crisis in maternity and neonatal services. This is a moment to be visible and explicit in challenging the unacceptable inequities within our maternity system, with Black and Asian women and birthing people and those living in the most deprived areas continuing to experience loss and harm. 

Angela McConville, NCT Chief Executive, said:

“Every day parents are being failed by an inadequate NHS maternity system and are experiencing devastating loss, harm and trauma. That is why NCT is urging MPs from across the house to support this debate and use their voices to call for safe, respectful, personalised, and culturally competent maternity and neonatal care. This is a moment for our leaders to be visible and explicit in challenging the unacceptable inequities within our maternity system.” 

Write to your MP

NCT is also encouraging it’s community of pregnant women, new parents, members, volunteers, peer supporters, practitioners and staff to take action. NCT has created a template letter that individuals can send to their MP, urging them to attend, support and speak at this key debate.

MPs are much more likely to take notice when they receive a personal letter, especially from a passionate constituent sharing why an issue truly matters to them.

If you're unsure where to start we’ve put together a helpful template you can use to craft your own message to your MP.

You can find out who your MP is here: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP 

Letter Template

Dear [Your MP’s Name]  

I hope that you are well. I am writing as a constituent from (your constituency name) to urge you to attend, support, and speak at the parliamentary debate being held in recognition of Baby Loss Awareness Week on Monday 13th October.  

Baby Loss Awareness Week runs annually between the 9th-15th October. This week provides a crucial opportunity to raise awareness of the impact of baby loss on parents across the UK and to advocate for improved support and care for mothers, birthing people and partners, as well as policy change.  

The debate will focus on the experiences of bereaved and harmed parents, the importance of compassionate care, and the need to tackle the crisis in maternity and neonatal services. This is a moment to be visible and explicit in challenging the unacceptable inequities within our maternity system, with Black and Asian women and birthing people and those living in the most deprived areas continuing to experience loss and harm. Far too many parents have been failed by an inadequate maternity system and experienced devastating loss and harm.

Your voice matters. By attending and speaking in this debate, you can:

•    Show solidarity with bereaved and harmed parents and families.
•   Call for immediate, evidence-based action to tackle racial and socio-economic disparities in maternal    care.  
•  Press for sustained investment, data transparency, and accountability in maternity services.
•  Advocate for safe, respectful, personalised, and culturally competent maternity care.

I hope you will consider attending and lending your voice to this vital conversation.  

As a member of your constituency, I would be grateful if you could confirm your attendance.

Thank you for your time and consideration.  

Best wishes,  

[Your Name]