Charities urge sweeping overhaul of Scotland's support for families experiencing baby loss
A coalition of baby-loss charities is calling for radical reform of Scotland’s bereavement services, highlighting gaps that lead to relationship breakdowns, job loss and mental-health crises.
Seven national charities, including Held In Our Hearts, Simba, Miscarriage UK and the Lullaby Trust, have formed the Scottish Baby Loss Collaborative to demand comprehensive reform of support services for bereaved families. Their chief executive, Nicola Welsh, warned that Scotland records about 70 pregnancy and baby losses each day and that existing provisions are fragmented, leaving families vulnerable to anxiety, debt, relationship breakdowns and even suicide.
The group is urging MSPs to commit to expanded psychological care, clear bereavement pathways and specialist programmes, citing the country's £1.2 billion adult mental-health budget as a benchmark. A motion lodged by SNP MSP Patricia Gibson will be debated in Holyrood on Wednesday, the day a peaceful awareness rally, sponsored by SNP MSP Paul McLennan, will take place outside the parliament. Baby Loss Awareness Week runs 9-15 October, featuring events such as a light-remembrance service at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow.
Why it matters
Improved support could prevent severe mental-health and socioeconomic fallout for families grieving baby loss.
In this story
