Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust signs Pregnancy Loss Pledge this Baby Loss Awareness Week

Today, at the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week, Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust has made a heartfelt commitment to support staff through the challenges of miscarriage and pregnancy loss, through signing the Miscarriage Association’s Pregnancy Loss Pledge.

The Pregnancy Loss Pledge demonstrates the Trust’s dedication to ensuring employees who experience such a traumatic event receive the care and support they need.

Vicki Robinson, Chief Executive of the Miscarriage Association, said: “We’re delighted that Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust has taken the important step of signing our Pregnancy Loss Pledge. By doing so, they are making an important commitment to supporting employees at what can be a really difficult and distressing time.

“They have worked to support their Pledge and employees by providing a compassionate and supportive work environment, introducing clear policies on pregnancy-related leave, and equipping managers with the tools they need to navigate sensitive situations and conversations.

“We’re especially pleased to see the emphasis on flexibility for individuals as they return to work, in a way which is tailored to each person affected, whether they are the person experiencing the physical loss, or their partner.”

This pledge aligns with the Trust’s ongoing support for Baby Loss Awareness Week, an opportunity for bereaved parents and families to unite with others across the world to commemorate their babies’ lives and lost pregnancies. The week also raises awareness of pregnancy and baby loss and highlights the support for anyone affected.

Talib Yaseen, Chief Nursing Officer at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, said: "By supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week and signing the Pregnancy Loss Pledge, we are reinforcing our commitment to offering bereaved parents and families a platform to share their experiences and access the support they need. The pledge ensures that our staff receive the care, compassion, and flexibility they deserve during such a challenging time. Together, through this pledge and our ongoing efforts, we hope to raise awareness, improve care and outcomes for those affected by pregnancy and baby loss, and raise funds for charities dedicated to supporting them."

Throughout the week, Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust will host a series of events across its hospitals, Pinderfields, Pontefract, and Dewsbury, aimed at raising awareness and offering support:

• Illuminating hospitals: The Trust will light up its hospital buildings to remember those lives lost far too soon.

• Bake sale at Pinderfields: On Wednesday, a charity bake sale will be held in Pinderfields’ main atrium, with staff available to offer advice and support.

• Information stalls: Information stalls will be set up at Pinderfields, Pontefract, and Dewsbury hospitals on Thursday, Friday and Monday respectively to raise awareness of the effects of pregnancy loss, the importance of bereavement support, and the work being done to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Funds raised will go toward supporting Sands, 4Louis, and the Miscarriage Association - charities that work tirelessly to provide support to families affected by pregnancy and baby loss.

The week will conclude with the global “Wave of Light” on Tuesday 15 October, where people worldwide will light candles at 7pm local time to remember all babies lost too soon. Candles will be available at Pinderfields Hospital’s Chapel at this time for staff, patients and visitors to light in an act of remembrance.

For more information on how to get involved or support Baby Loss Awareness Week, visit www.babyloss-awareness.org.