Miscarriage Research: The Lancet

Opened the debate

Olivia Blake thanked the Chamber for allowing time to discuss miscarriages, highlighting The Lancet's 'Miscarriage matters' series and Tommy’s petition with over 170,000 signatories. She noted that miscarriage is often a taboo topic despite its prevalence, affecting one in four pregnancies globally. Blake cited research indicating higher risks among black women and older age groups. She shared her personal experience of trauma and lack of mental health support following a miscarriage and emphasised the need for better data collection, patient recording, and standardised care. Blake called on the government to address key asks: ending the three-miscarriages rule, providing 24/7 care and follow-up mental health support, and collecting comprehensive data on miscarriages.

Government Response

Minister acknowledged the prevalence and emotional impact of miscarriages, highlighting efforts to improve perinatal mental healthcare through NHS long-term plans. She announced new mental health hubs for expectant or bereaved mothers providing care for around 6,000 women annually. Dorries emphasised ongoing work to address health inequalities affecting black women's higher risks of miscarriage and the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle before conception. She committed to including recommendations from The Lancet series in the upcoming women’s health strategy, focusing on 24/7 care availability, standardising treatment after multiple miscarriages (to be reviewed by Royal College), and recording every miscarriage for data collection. Dorries encouraged affected individuals to seek support through GPs or hospitals.