Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to address the postcode lottery in NHS mental health support for bereaved parents following pregnancy or baby loss; and whether she will commit to issuing national standards for Integrated Care Boards to ensure all bereaved parents, including fathers and partners, can access specialist psychological support.

The Government recognises that the experience of losing a baby or pregnancy loss can be very difficult for parents and families.

Maternal Mental Health Services are available in all integrated care board areas in England and provide care for women with moderate, severe, or complex mental health difficulties arising from baby loss.

Additionally, all NHS England trusts have signed up to the National Bereavement Care Pathway, which acts as a set of standards and guidance aimed at ensuring all families, including fathers and partners, receive consistent, individualised, and sensitive care.

Fathers and partners can receive evidence-based assessment and support through Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services. Where partners may have a need for mental health support but is not a moderate or severe mental health condition, it is important they can be signposted to other forms of support through their general practice and NHS Talking Therapies.