The public inquiry to examine the UK’s response to and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic heard the Opening Remarks for Module 3 on Tuesday 10th September. The module looks at the impact of the pandemic on healthcare and The Lullaby Trust, with 12 other pregnancy, baby, and parenting charities, is a Core Participant.
What is the UK Covid-19 Inquiry?
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry is an independent public inquiry set up to examine the UK’s response to and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and learn lessons for the future. The Inquiry is Chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett, a former Court of Appeal judge.
The Inquiry has announced three modules so far, the third of which is looking at the healthcare system.
The Lullaby Trust is a Core Participant with 12 other pregnancy, baby, and parenting charities: Aching Arms; Baby Lifeline; Bliss; The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust; Group B Strep Support; ICP Support; Miscarriage Association; National Childbirth Trust; Pelvic Partnership; Pregnancy Sickness Support; Tommy’s; and Twins Trust.
You can read the press release from the 13 pregnancy, baby, and parenting charities here.
What is a Core Participant?
A Core Participant is a person, institution, or organisation that has a specific interest in the work of the Inquiry and has a formal role. Core Participants have special rights in the Inquiry process. These include receiving documentation, being represented and making legal submissions, suggesting questions and receiving advance notice of the Inquiry’s report.
Why this Inquiry is important
At the hearing yesterday, these charities told the Inquiry how pregnancy care as well as maternity, neonatal and postnatal care were dramatically disrupted during the pandemic. The Inquiry heard how disruption to services led to pregnant women and people attending clinics, scans, and hospital appointments alone, with many receiving the devastating news that their pregnancy had ended, without anyone with them for support.
Jenny Ward, Chief Executive of The Lullaby Trust said, “At The Lullaby Trust, we heard many distressing stories during the pandemic from pregnant people, new parents and carers and bereaved families who were not receiving the support and advice they needed. We also heard from health professionals who were under great pressure and extremely restricted in the support that they could give families. It is clear from their collective experience that the reactive healthcare response to Covid-19 failed to properly value the care of women, pregnant people and newborn babies and failed the women, pregnant people and babies who were supposed to be at the heart of that care.
“We are still seeing the negative impact of reduced access to health professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic in our work on providing safer sleep education, bereavement support and in our role leading our CONI programme. We hope that our involvement in the inquiry can help lessons to be learned and shape policy in the future, with the families and professionals we support at it’s heart.”
For more information
The Inquiry will publish updates on its work, including future hearing dates, and you can read the Inquiry’s newsletters. The Lullaby Trust aims to share updates through our website and social media channels, as and when possible.
Supporting you
We understand that reading about the pandemic and thinking about and sharing your experience of the death of a young baby or child may be difficult and bring up many complex emotions. If you require any support, please do get in touch with us.
Every Story Matters – Sharing your experience of pregnancy and child loss during the pandemic
In order to fully understand the impact of the pandemic on the UK population, the Inquiry is inviting the public to share their experiences of the pandemic by launching Every Story Matters – an opportunity for everyone that wishes to, to contribute to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry by sharing their experience, in as much or as little detail as you wish.
It’s worth noting that participation in the Inquiry requires you to be 18 years or older.
Find out more and share your story here.
