Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Support for Bereaved Parents 2026-07-14

Tuesday 14 July 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Paula Barker inquired about NHS commissioned funding for bereavement services provided by Love, Jasmine due to a funding crisis.
  • The Government responded that integrated care boards must ensure sufficient bereavement support and work with the voluntary sector, with 25 million invested to enhance bereavement facilities.
  • Wera Hobhouse asked if volunteer-led trauma care should be considered essential rather than a 'nice to have' part of trauma care.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Paula Barker Lab
NHS
Context

The charity Love, Jasmine in Paula Barker's constituency supports bereaved parents through counselling and advocacy but faces a funding crisis after the loss of its National Lottery funding. It has helped over 900 families and receives NHS referrals.

Question

Losing a child is devastating, leaving parents shocked, grieving, and in pain. The charity Love, Jasmine helps over 900 families and receives constant NHS referrals but operates on limited service due to lack of commissioned NHS funding and faces closure threat. Will the Government consider NHS commissioned funding for such specialist support?

Answer from Preet Kaur Gill

Integrated care boards must ensure sufficient provision of bereavement support and work with voluntary community and social enterprise sector. £25 million is being invested to enhance bereavement facilities and maternity services.

Partly answered

Not addressed: NHS commissioned funding for Love, Jasmine

How: Integrated Care Boards Should Ensure Provision, Investing In General Bereavement Facilities

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Q2 Paula Barker Lab
NHS
Context

The charity Love, Jasmine supports over 900 families since its founding in 2016 and faces a funding crisis after losing National Lottery funding. It provides vital bereavement support but operates with limited service.

Question

Love, Jasmine helps grieving parents through counselling, support groups, advocacy, practical advice, and receives NHS referrals but lacks commissioned NHS funding due to new criteria causing funding crisis. Will the Government consider NHS commissioned funding for such specialist services?

Answer from Preet Kaur Gill

Bereavement support must be available with sensitivity and respect. Integrated care boards should ensure provision including working with voluntary sector. £25 million is being invested to enhance bereavement facilities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: NHS commissioned funding for Love, Jasmine

How: Integrated Care Boards Must Ensure Provision, Investing In General Bereavement Facilities

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Q3 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
NHS
Context

Dorothy House runs bereavement help points for grieving individuals relying entirely on volunteers. The service addresses the lifelong trauma of baby loss but cannot cover all needs.

Question

Does the Minister agree that volunteer-led trauma care like Dorothy House's should not be a 'nice to have' but an essential part of trauma care?

Answer from Preet Kaur Gill

All parents should have choice and respect in difficult times. As of January, all integrated care boards ensure bereavement services seven days a week across maternity settings.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Essential status of volunteer-led trauma support

How: All Parents Should Have Choice And Respect, Integrated Care Boards Ensuring Provision

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