Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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343. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of a range of improvement actions based on the national standards for bereavement care following pregnancy loss and perinatal death across all 19 maternity units. [53618/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE National Standards for Bereavement Care following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death provide that clinical and counselling services should be in place to support women and their families in all pregnancy loss situations, from early pregnancy loss to perinatal death, as well as situations where there is a diagnosis of foetal anomaly that may be life limiting or fatal. Each hospital will be required to have systems in place to ensure that bereavement care and end-of-life care for babies is central to the mission of the hospital and is organised around the needs of babies and their families. I am advised that the Standards will be implemented on a phased basis by a dedicated Bereavement Standards Implementation Group in association with the National Women & Infants Health Programme.

In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.