Medical negligence
Baby loss awareness week 2025
Baby loss awareness week is an opportunity to come together as a community and raise awareness for pregnancy and baby loss, and the journey of grief that follows.
Baby loss awareness week
Baby loss awareness week is observed annually from 9th to 15th October and is dedicated to supporting bereaved families and those touched by baby loss. This annual campaign offers supportive space for anyone affected by pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or infant death to share their experiences and feel less alone.
Families are encouraged to commemorate their babies in personal or communal ways, such as holding or attending remembrance services or participating in events such as the Wave of Light at the end of this week.
On the 15th of October every year, baby loss awareness week ends with a global ‘Wave of Light' where candles across the world are lit at 7pm local time, to commemorate the babies who lit up lives for a time that was too short.
Making change
One of the biggest impacts of baby loss awareness week is driving change to stop this from happening to more families. This involves pushing for change in maternity services and negligent maternity care. There have been many reports about alarming deficiencies in maternity care in the UK, detailing avoidable baby deaths and injuries to both mothers and babies.
Our medical negligence team have a long history of supporting those impacted by baby loss including Katie Fowler and Robert Miller who lost their daughter, Abigail, at only two days old, due to failings by the maternity team at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. We have support Katie and Rob in communicating directly with the health secretary Wes Streeting within their campaign for improved maternity services.
Investigations in England concerning major patient safety concerns, such as baby deaths, are conducted by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), and the independent body, The Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations (MNSI). However, in Wales, there is no governing body such as these, so when our clients Emily Brazier and Rhodri Thomas lost their daughter, Liliwen Iris Thomas, 20 hours after her birth at the University Hospital of Wales, they were told that the investigation would be conducted by staff at the same hospital. In light of this, we are supporting Emily as she calls for a total change in the process, especially for cases in maternity failings.
Maternity medical negligence support
We are proud to support those who have suffered the unimaginable loss of their child due to medical negligence. Our leading experts offer bespoke guidance and advice, whilst providing compassionate support from day one.
If you are concerned about the treatment you and your child received at any point throughout your pregnancy and labour or believe an error in your care may have led to you losing your child, you are entitled to seek the answers you deserve. At Slater & Gordon, you can speak to a member of our expert medical negligence team for a free, during a no obligation consultation.
Call us on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online today.
