The Tommy’s Graded Model of Miscarriage Care is a new approach that offers women and birthing people additional care and support from their first miscarriage, increasing with each loss.
New research published today by Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research has the potential to transform how care is delivered and help thousands of families bring their babies home instead of suffering the heartbreak of a miscarriage.
Currently, too many women and birthing people must go through the pain and distress of three miscarriages before they’re routinely offered care, tests and treatments that could help prevent the loss of another baby. This needs to change.
The new Graded Model can change this and have a real impact for families across the UK. Tommy's report out today has shown this model can be effectively rolled out within the NHS, and can help healthcare professionals provide compassionate care to women and birthing people after every loss.
Kath Abrahams, Chief Executive of Tommy’s, has stressed the need for consistency across the UK.
“Scotland has already taken the first step towards implementation, embedding this model into its miscarriage pathway. We are now urging policymakers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to make the Graded Model of Miscarriage Care available across the UK as soon as possible.”
- Kath Abrahams
There's still much uncertainty around the numbers and rates of pregnancy loss, with evidence suggesting at least 1 in 6 pregnancies end in miscarriage. This heartbreak leaves a deep and lasting impact on the lives of parents and families.
“Women and birthing people should not have to go through the pain and distress of three miscarriages before they’re routinely offered care, tests and treatments that could help prevent the loss of another baby. This needs to change.
“We welcome today’s report from Tommy’s on their Graded Model of Miscarriage Care which shows it has the potential to prevent over 10,000 miscarriages a year in the UK. This graded model of care sees support after every miscarriage, with levels of care increasing with each loss.
“We were very pleased that in England the Government committed to reviewing the findings of Tommy’s research in the recently refreshed Women’s Health Strategy. We know that listening to women can save babies’ lives. But ambition alone is not enough. Ambition must now turn to action.
“Across the UK, the Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit is continuing to call for better recording and understanding of data around miscarriage. Governments across the UK must prioritise this to enable targets to reduce these losses. Without knowing the true number of miscarriages each year, we can’t track progress or hold governments to account.”
- Sands' Chief Executive Clea Harmer
Earlier this month, the UK Government committed to reviewing the results of Tommy’s study and consider the rollout of the Tommy’s Graded Model of Miscarriage Care throughout the NHS in England, within its renewed Women’s Health Strategy.
The Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit is continuing to call for better recording and understanding of data around miscarriage – and this has not been addressed in the strategy. Knowing how many women experience miscarriage is a first step toward the government adding a target to reduce these losses as part of the National Maternity Safety Ambitions.
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