A new model of miscarriage care could prevent over 10,000 pregnancy losses every year and significantly reduce the number of women who endure repeated heartbreak, according to a report by Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research and Birmingham Women's Hospital.
Current System Leaves Women Waiting
Currently, the NHS does not provide vital tests and support to identify women's health issues and pregnancy risks until the third miscarriage. This leaves thousands of women vulnerable to further grief and repeated losses.
Researchers have called for a new 'graded model' of specialist care to be adopted across the UK, which would offer one-to-one specialist consultations and hormone therapy options after a first loss, rather than waiting for three miscarriages.
Graded Model Offers Escalating Care
Under the proposed model, after further losses, additional tests for treatable conditions such as anaemia, abnormal thyroid function, and 'sticky blood' syndrome would be provided. In a trial by Tommy's, one in five women who had already suffered two losses were found to have treatable issues that are missed by the standard NHS system.
Research indicates that early targeted care could prevent around 10,075 losses annually, reducing the estimated 250,000 miscarriages recorded in the UK each year by 4%. The charity also claims such preventative action could save the NHS up to £40 million in its first year.
Personal Stories Highlight Need for Change
Bethany Hulme-Teague, 30, from Bath, described feeling heartbroken and unsupported after her second loss when her doctor told her she would have to endure a third before being eligible for NHS help. She said: 'No one should have to experience three miscarriages in a row to receive additional care. This is why the Graded Model of Miscarriage Care is so important.'
Emily Hume, 42, from Birmingham, reached 28 weeks of pregnancy after two losses following IVF embryo transfers, thanks to the pilot programme. She received crucial tests that revealed a need for higher folic acid dosage, saying: 'Without the tests and treatment we had as part of the Tommy’s pilot, I don’t think I would still be pregnant with the baby we’re expecting now.'
Experts and Charities Back the Model
Kath Abrahams, Chief Executive of Tommy's, said: 'The three-miscarriage wait means women and families are left without early access to services that could help prevent future losses and reduce debilitating feelings of isolation and hopelessness.' She added that the pilot study shows providing support after a first miscarriage is effective and achievable without significant additional workload for NHS teams.
Nicki Robinson, Chief Executive of the Miscarriage Association, commented: 'Research like this is a really important step forward in improving miscarriage care. For too long, women have effectively been asked to endure repeated heartbreak before they can access investigations or support.'
Call for Government Action
Tommy's is urging policymakers in Wales, England, and Northern Ireland to implement the new model immediately, with Scotland already taking first steps. They are also pushing for the NHS to establish an official record of loss to better understand the true scale of miscarriage in the UK.
The report comes amid a government inquiry into systemic failures in NHS maternity wards, with interim findings highlighting a 'toxic' culture over two decades. Health minister Baroness Gillian Merron welcomed the findings, stating they will be carefully considered as part of ongoing work to ensure women receive high-quality, compassionate NHS care.
