A groundbreaking approach to miscarriage care has the potential to prevent more than 10,000 pregnancy losses annually and reduce the emotional burden on women facing recurrent miscarriages.
Currently, the National Health Service (NHS) delays crucial tests and support services until after the third miscarriage, missing opportunities to identify women’s health issues and pregnancy risks earlier.
Researchers at Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research and Birmingham Women’s Hospital are advocating for the adoption of a new ‘graded model’ of specialized care nationwide to provide quicker assistance to women and families.
Under this model, women would receive personalized consultations and hormone therapy options after their first miscarriage, rather than having to endure repeated losses before intervention.
As part of the graded approach, additional tests would be offered after subsequent miscarriages to detect treatable conditions such as anaemia, abnormal thyroid functions, and ‘sticky blood’ syndrome.
A study conducted by Tommy’s found that one in five women who had experienced two miscarriages had treatable conditions like anaemia or thyroid problems that went undetected under the current NHS system.
Early targeted care could potentially prevent around 10,075 miscarriages annually, representing a 4% reduction from the estimated 250,000 miscarriages in the UK each year, leading to potential cost savings of up to £40 million for the NHS.
Bethany Hulme-Teague, a 30-year-old from Bath, expressed the emotional toll of the current system, where she was told she needed to endure a third miscarriage before receiving NHS assistance.
Advocates of the Graded Model of Miscarriage Care emphasize the importance of providing more support to women during miscarriage, not only for their mental well-being but also for the future well-being of their children.
Tommy’s Charity CEO, Kath Abrahams, highlighted the drawbacks of the current three-miscarriage wait period, emphasizing the need for early access to services to prevent future losses and alleviate feelings of isolation and hopelessness among affected individuals.
The success of the graded care system trial was evident in the case of Emily Hume, a 42-year-old participant from Birmingham, who reached 28 weeks of pregnancy following previous losses and IVF treatments, thanks to early medical assessments and necessary treatments.
Nicki Robinson, Chief Executive of the Miscarriage Association, praised the research as a significant step forward in improving miscarriage care, emphasizing the need to provide support after pregnancy loss without the requirement of enduring multiple losses.
Tommy’s is urging policymakers across the UK to implement the graded care model promptly, with Scotland already taking steps towards its adoption and advocating for the establishment of an official record of pregnancy loss to enhance understanding of miscarriage prevalence in the UK.
The release of Tommy’s report coincides with a government inquiry into systemic failures in maternity wards within NHS trusts, with interim findings revealing long-standing issues in providing compassionate care to women.
Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron welcomed the report’s findings and pledged to consider them in ongoing efforts to ensure high-quality and compassionate care for women in the NHS.