The UK Covid-19 Inquiry: sharing stories of loss

The devastating impact of the pandemic on people experiencing pregnancy loss has been highlighted by the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

The latest stage of the inquiry, which started on Monday 9th September, focuses on the effects of the pandemic on healthcare, including the impact on pregnancy, maternity and neonatal care.

At the opening hearing, Jacqueline Carey KC, Counsel to the Inquiry, read powerful testimony submitted by the Miscarriage Association and our service users.

She told the inquiry that having to attend appointments and being given unexpected and/or upsetting news alone was one of the most distressing aspects of the pandemic.

She referred to a survey carried out by the MA and read quotations from two of our respondents.

The first said: “It was heartbreaking to lose my baby, the only child I conceived in a three-year ongoing infertility journey. Confused, masked, distraught and without my partner to hold my hand and grieve with me.”

The second said: “It was one thing being completely alone in hospital and having my miscarriage confirmed and having to decide how to manage things but knowing that the Government were having parties at the same time is disgusting and fills me with so much anger. I remember meeting my husband at the entrance to the hospital to decide on how to manage things. I’ll never forget the group of men standing there waiting for their partners to come out from appointments and scans, it was so inhumane and a memory I’ll never forget.”

Later in the hearing, Barrister Adam Wagner gave an opening statement on behalf of the 13 Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting Organisations (PBPOs) – of which the MA is one – and told the inquiry that ‘the reactive healthcare response to Covid-19 failed the women, pregnant people, and babies who were supposed to be at the heart of that care.’

The MA and its partner charities, who are represented by Slater and Gordon solicitors, have been granted core participant status in the inquiry, with more evidence due to be heard in the coming weeks.

Thank you to the almost 600 people who courageously shared their experiences with us to inform the inquiry and to try to ensure that lessons are learned for the future.

Module 3 (Healthcare) of the Covid Inquiry runs through the autumn. The daily live stream can be found here: https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/#broadcastStatus