Tommy’s Ambassador Myleene Klass and Professor Siobhan Quenby, Deputy Director of Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research, have both been awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year’s Honours list.
Myleene, who has drawn on her own experience of baby loss to campaign for better miscarriage care, is recognised for services to women’s health, miscarriage awareness, and charity.
Her 2021 documentary, Myleene Klass: Miscarriage and Me, helped to break the silence around miscarriage as she shared her own and others’ stories of loss and grief. She has campaigned alongside Tommy’s for the introduction of a graded model of miscarriage care, so that women and birthing people do not have to experience 3 consecutive losses before they qualify for specialist care and support.
Professor Quenby, Professor of Obstetrics at the University of Warwick and head of Tommy’s recurrent miscarriage clinic in Coventry, is recognised for services to obstetrics research.
Professor Quenby worked with Tommy’s to create our Miscarriage Support Tool, for women and birthing people who have had 1 or more miscarriages. It offers personalised support and information to anyone who is thinking about pregnancy after miscarriage, and can help to predict the likelihood that a future pregnancy will be successful.
Kath Abrahams, Chief Executive of Tommy’s, said: “By sharing her own traumatic experiences of baby loss, Myleene Klass has been a powerful and effective voice for so many who live with this often-hidden grief.
“We are profoundly grateful for her tireless work with us at Tommy’s to raise awareness of miscarriage and improve care and support for the thousands of families affected every year.
“Professor Quenby’s research into pregnancy loss, and her commitment to helping those affected, is changing and saving lives.
“As Deputy Director of Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research, and head of Tommy’s recurrent miscarriage clinic in Coventry, she has done an extraordinary amount to further understanding of pregnancy loss and its impact, as well as developing treatments to prevent it.
“We're delighted that both have been recognised with such well-deserved honours."