Parents' experiences are at the heart of what we do
By putting bereaved parents' voices at the heart of our work we can make sure their views lead to better care for every pregnant mother and baby, now and in the future. Through our surveys and focus groups we are working to reduce inequalities, so that everyone receives high quality care.
The Sands Listening Project
In 2023, Sands listened to the experiences of bereaved Black and Asian parents to understand if there are inequalities in care. The findings highlight barriers, biases and poor care that may be contributing to inequalities in baby deaths in the UK.
Bereaved parents' experiences of care
In June 2023, Sands ran a survey asking bereaved parents about their care during pregnancy, birth, bereavement and follow-up investigations, such as post-mortems.
Focus groups with South Asian and Black parents
This 2022 report explores the views of bereaved parents from South Asian and Black communities, through focus groups, to gain insight into their experiences of maternity and neonatal care.
In their own words: Parents' experiences of review
Our 2021 survey looked at parents' experiences of the review process into their care. The findings have been shared with organisations across the UK. Parents' quotes are now included in our training for healthcare professionals.
Survey of Black and South Asian families
In the summer of 2021, Sands surveyed bereaved parents and family members from Black and South Asian communities to find out about their experiences of bereavement care and support.
Survey of maternity and neonatal care
In 2019, around 1,000 parents responded to our survey about their experiences of care before and after their baby died. We used what the told us in our policy and campaigns work in the following year.
National survey of bereaved parents
The National Perinatal Mortality Unit, at the University of Oxford, with Sands and Bliss as partners, ran the first national survey of bereaved parents’ experiences in 2015. This showed where care needed to improve and has been acted upon in the years following the report.
Over more than a decade there have been numerous national maternity reports highlighting where care for mothers and babies should be improved to save lives. These national reports, many of which were driven by the voices and experiences of parents, have focussed national attention on making care in the UK even safer.