Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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2388. To ask the Minister for Health the national standards that maternity hospitals follow in relation to bereavement care following pregnancy loss and perinatal death; the staffing requirements outlined in these standards including whether bereavement midwife posts must be full-time or part-time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45789/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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This Government is committed to the progressive development of maternity services. There has been significant work undertaken in recent years to improve support for families experiencing pregnancy loss.  

In 2016, Ireland’s first National Maternity Strategy was published, as well as the HSE’s National Standards for Bereavement Care following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death. The National Maternity Strategy recognises the importance of improving and standardising bereavement care throughout our maternity services and recommends the implementation of the National Standards for Bereavement Care following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death. The Standards are designed to enhance bereavement care services for parents who experience a pregnancy loss or perinatal death and cover all pregnancy loss situations from early pregnancy loss to perinatal death. The Standards set out that the provision of care should be based on the needs of the parents, and not the type of pregnancy loss. We have also been investing significantly in ensuring that there are appropriate, comfortable, and quiet spaces in maternity units for families receiving bad news. 

There has been significant progress in implementing the National Standards, including the development of Specialist Bereavement Teams in all 19 maternity hospitals and units, each with a Clinical Midwife Specialist in Bereavement. Investment through the Strategy has supported the development of dedicated Bereavement Rooms. These spaces ensure that families who have experienced a bereavement or are receiving bad news can receive compassionate care in an appropriate setting that affords privacy and dignity at a very difficult and distressing time. There are also quiet rooms available in most units to facilitate parents spending time with their baby.

The Department has been assured that all units continue to implement the Standards, which are closely monitored by the Bereavement Standards Implementation Advisory Group reporting to the HSE's National Women & Infants Health Programme.

In the Programme for Government, we are committed to requiring hospitals to improve their environments, spaces, and supports within maternity services to better assist and support individuals dealing with pregnancy loss or critical neonatal illness. Work is ongoing by both the Department of Health and HSE to identify and develop further improvements.

With regard to the staffing requirements and whether bereavement midwife posts must be full-time or part-time, as this is a service matter, I have asked that the HSE respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

I hope this information and the response from the HSE can be of assurance to you.