Written question WQ95009

The loss of a baby at any stage of pregnancy is a distressing experience. All families who experience late pregnancy loss at maternity units in Wales are supported by bereavement midwives. In early pregnancy all health boards offer psychological and emotional support through early pregnancy assessment services.

The Maternity and Neonatal Safety Support Programme (MatNeoSSP) was launched in 2022 to improve the safety, experience, and outcomes of maternity and neonatal care for women, babies and families across Wales. The NHS Executive is leading on phase two implementation in partnership with health boards, the Welsh Ambulance Service and stakeholders, with a clear focus on improving the experiences and outcomes for women, babies and their families here in Wales.

The Welsh Government is committed to eliminating the disparities experienced by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Women and babies throughout the perinatal period. The Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan (ARWAP) ensures maternity and neonatal services has a specific focus to improve the outcomes and enhance experiences of Black, Asian and minority ethnic women and families and is met within the Maternity and Neonatal Safety Support Programme. To support this, the Welsh Government has employed a midwife to lead on equality, diversity and inclusion within maternity and neonatal policy.

We are committed to reducing stillbirths and neonatal deaths and provision of equitable care by the implementation of safe and effective services for all families.

MBRRACE-UK is a national audit programme that collects information about all late foetal losses, stillbirths, neonatal deaths and maternal deaths across the UK. The work conducted by MBRRACE-UK forms part of the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme (NCAPOP funded by the Welsh Government and NHS England. Since MBRRACE reporting began in 2013 there has been an overall decline in stillbirth rates.