NHS sends ‘powerful signal’ with new miscarriage leave policy

NHS staff who experience a miscarriage will be able to take up to ten days of additional paid leave under new national guidance.

The NHS will also allow partners of those who go through a miscarriage to take up to five days of paid leave.

Its new National Pregnancy and Baby Loss People Policy Framework asks all NHS Trusts to give staff paid time off for miscarriage-related medical appointments, scans and tests as well as any support with their mental health.

Staff who return from work after their pregnancy loss will be offered occupational health support including referrals to specialist services at their Trust, or specialist miscarriage and baby loss charities and organisations.  

The policy, which applies to all women and birthing people who experience a miscarriage in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, is being rolled out across the NHS after a trial at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

Kath Abrahams, Chief Executive of Tommy’s said: 

“We warmly welcome the introduction of this policy by the NHS.

“Pregnancy loss can take a huge toll on women and birthing people, both physically and mentally. Their partners may also be profoundly affected.

“As the largest employer in the UK, the NHS is sending a powerful signal that staff going through this experience deserve understanding, compassion and the right to grieve – and that support is possible, no matter what your workplace looks like.

“We’re proud to have worked with the team at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust since they became members of our Pregnancy and Parenting at Work programme in 2021.

“Their pioneering policy has significantly improved support for staff who experience pregnancy loss at the Trust, where Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research carries out so much of its work.

“We know what a difference it makes when this kind of policy is embedded and implemented effectively across organisations of all sizes, including NHS Trusts.”

Raffaela Goodby, Chief People Officer at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“Structured support at work for people experiencing miscarriage can have a lifelong impact on the people involved. I hope policies like this become the norm for the NHS and I am grateful to Staff Side, NHSE, Tommy’s and The Miscarriage Association for their energy and support.”

A staff survey at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital found that staff were twice as likely to stay with their employer as a result of the policy. 

By contrast, a national survey by the CIPD found almost a quarter (24%) of UK employees who had experienced pregnancy or baby loss left their jobs following a poor experience with their organisations.

NHS staff who experience a loss after six months of pregnancy will remain eligible for paid maternity leave.

• Tommy's Pregnancy and Parenting at Work programme offers a template pregnancy loss policy and supports managers in embedding and implementing pregnancy loss policies effectively.