Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01443 · Session 4

Investigating the cause of miscarriage

Closed Submitted 20 Jul 2012 Health
Signatures
25
864 online signatures with a country
Comments
79
Considered
7 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to offer all women, who have suffered miscarriage, investigations following one loss through miscarriage and to review NHS Scotland’s policy on the investigation and treatment of couples who experience miscarriage to help relieve the anxiety and distress to women caused by the current guidelines.

What the petitioner did first

SCIM have campaigned steadily on this issue since 1994 but it is very difficult to engage with the health service. Most recently, we have approached Robert Calderwood, Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. This has resulted in a response that does not grasp the seriousness of this issue. The SCIM Management Committee asked Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Board, to offer women who have suffered miscarriage, investigations following one loss though miscarriage. However we were referred to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists guidelines (2011): http://www.rcog.org.uk/files/rcog-corp/GTG17recurrentmiscarriage.pdf
We approached every health authority in 1995 and were referred to guidelines which call for three consecutive miscarriages before the relevant tests would be offered. This is the position of the GGHB at the most recent approach. Our charities resources do not allow us to test the other boards, however we have no reason to believe that any other health board, in Scotland, would behave differently.
We have also approached Neil Bibby MSP, Mary Fee MSP and other Glasgow City Councillors such as Cllr Elaine Smith and Cllr Gordon Matheson who have all expressed their support in this matter and some of whom suggested that we submit a petition to the Scottish Parliament.

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 27 Nov 2012
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention
  2. 5 Feb 2013
    Public Petitions Committee
    Current Petitions
    1 mention
  3. 16 Apr 2013
    Public Petitions Committee
    Current Petitions
    1 mention
  4. 25 Jun 2013
    Public Petitions Committee
    Current Petitions
    1 mention
  5. 17 Sep 2013
    Public Petitions Committee
    Current Petitions
    1 mention
  6. 26 Nov 2013
    Public Petitions Committee
    Current Petition
    1 mention
  7. 28 Jan 2014
    Public Petitions Committee
    Current Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

864 online signatures
  1. Scotland598 69.2%
  2. England81 9.4%
  3. United Kingdom80 9.3%
  4. United States36 4.2%
  5. Sweden21 2.4%
  6. Australia7 0.8%
  7. Ireland4 0.5%
  8. Germany4 0.5%
  9. Austria4 0.5%
  10. Wales4 0.5%
  11. 15 other countries25 2.9%

Comments

79 comments, oldest first
79 comments · showing 1–50
  1. anne will 5 Aug 2012
    having suffered the distress miscarriage can cause i feel any investigation regardless of how many miscarriagesa woman has had can only be of help to women who have suffered in helping find a reason for this to have happened to them
  2. Nicola clarke 5 Aug 2012
    Having suffered a miscarriage myself I would like more investigation done to help other women.
  3. Annette Carberry 6 Aug 2012
    Sadly, my partner and I have lost 4 babies, three of which were miscarriages. It has been devastating for all of the family and it is only now that I "qualify" for testing. Some women could benefit greatly both physically and emotionally if the policy was changed. Women should be entitled to investigation regardless of the number of losses they have suffered!
  4. Angela McKenna 6 Aug 2012
    Having suffered a miscarriage nearly 4 years ago now I still think about this a lot. I am now 45 and ofcourse at the time was 41, was a bit of shock to find out I was pregnant and then to lose the baby only 2 weeks later was devastating felt my only chance in life was taken cruelly away from me. Maureen at SCIM was amazing though and helped me through the tough times.
  5. A cully 6 Aug 2012
    A simple £35 blood test can check for aps which is sticky blood and Is a common cause for recurrent miscarriage and stillbirth. If found it is easily remedied by low dose aspirin and possibly other blood thinners during pregnancy. Currently in Scotland you have to have 3 miscarriages before qualifying for this test
    - in my opinion one is enough heartache for a women and her family to suffer to qualify being tested. I unfortunately carried my daughter to 39 weeks when she was born sleeping and I discovered I have aps. Any loss whatever trimester is devastating and we should be doing all we can to help find solutions early. Having researched a bit I am horrified to find that the uk put very little funding into miscarriage and stillbirth research compared to other countries.
  6. Colin Murray 6 Aug 2012
    I think this is a brilliant cause
  7. K 7 Aug 2012
    This is a brilliant cause, after suffering a miscarriage at 8weeks pregnant, almost 4 weeks ago I've been left with no support from Doctors or Hospitals , I feel like i've been left in limbo & just don't know where to go next, so the more that can be done to help people in my situation the better.
  8. christina shaw 7 Aug 2012
    this is a brilliant cause. as i have had 8 misscarrages. i am lucky i have went on to have 3 healthy children.
  9. Lesley Kilpatrick 7 Aug 2012
    I think this is a very worthwhile cause! as i know only too well how awful it is to experience a miscarriage, after having one at 9wks.
  10. Jacqueline Gittoes foreman 8 Aug 2012
    Women shouldn't need a number of miscarages before they "qualifiy" this is terrible 1 is bad enough mentally and physically draining my thoughts and prayers are with you Annette I hope you get all the answers and much much more.
  11. Elizabeth Corrigan 8 Aug 2012
    Change has to happen the NHS have done very little for far too long !!!!
  12. Morna 8 Aug 2012
    Well done Maureen. Much needed!
  13. Lynn Reid 8 Aug 2012
    Having gone through 2 miscarriages at 10 wks and having first lot of tests for blood abnormalities carried out I feel that chromosomal testing should be carried out at the same time. It is a horrific time and feel there is not a lot of support through nhs at all
  14. Maureen Sharkey 8 Aug 2012
    As a counsellor, I see the devastating effects that the current policy has. I am hopeful the Scottish Parliament with properly exercise its powers and do something about it.
  15. isobel simpson 8 Aug 2012
    well done to lee for taking this further given hope to woman that have suffered miscarriage.. i tshd be investigated after 1 never mind 3!!!
  16. Kirstine Morrison 9 Aug 2012
    Testing should be done for every woman who has a miscarriage not just recurrent miscarriages.
  17. Sheena gall-Edwards 10 Aug 2012
    Having had 8 miscarriages, a dvt and pulmonary embolism, then still not being tested, I had to battle for a diagnosis. I'm from England but feel very strongly that testing should be done so much earlier.
  18. Angela Blair 11 Aug 2012
    It is vital that testing is carried out in order to stop couples continually going through this heartbreaking time.
  19. Beverley Jane Lawson 11 Aug 2012
    This is a massive step forward, however, why wait for one miscarriage when the inexpensive tests for APS could be incorporated into routine blood tests for pregnant women and avoid many more miscarriages. Surely prevention is the ethical and cost effective policy.
  20. Hannah Forbes 13 Aug 2012
    This is great and I have signed the petition. But I think abortions are something that should be challenged long before miscarriages are. If people are willing to kill their babies, then why should it be such a big deal to lose them naturally? I think both are awful but maybe we need to work out what we're fighting here...
  21. Gillian Eacott 13 Aug 2012
    I think that a simple blood test that is inexpensive is the way to go to avoid such heartbreak as miscarriages. This would seem to be an effective way to ensure the health of women and unborn babies, it's a no brainer.
  22. Carole Richardson. 13 Aug 2012
    This is a really good cause it is so sad how many miscarriages ladies must have before being tested.
  23. Crystal Bridges 14 Aug 2012
    i have suffered from 5 miscarraiges and never ever had them looked into i want more to be done about it and hope this petition will change that as i am desperate to have children :(
  24. cheryl holland 14 Aug 2012
    gr8 cause close to my heart and most peoples x
  25. tracy lyons, 14 Aug 2012
    wonderfull cause
  26. julie nelson 15 Aug 2012
    having had a stillbirth and two miscarriages myself last one two weeks ago. i think this is a disgrace eh asked for testing and they wouldnt include my son being stillborn as one , how many times do women have to go through this heartache !
  27. Lisa Marie Wildman 15 Aug 2012
    I think its a good idea myself as in the future it could be prevented
  28. lindsie larzelere 15 Aug 2012
    i would like to know
  29. miriam 15 Aug 2012
    do it for the mum's and dad's who want to know 'why'
  30. Marilyn Foden 15 Aug 2012
    All woman need to know this,as it affects many many woman
  31. J Carroll 15 Aug 2012
    I have had 1 miscarriage and 2 ectopic pregnancies. I got tested after my first ectopic and got the all clear. I was advised then after that by my gynocologist to take baby asprin and progesterone suppositres the next time I became pregnant which I did but unfortuately I had another ectopic pregnacy where I had a tube removed. I think I had a sympathetic doctor who referred me after my first ectopic which was good. Even after all the tests and medication you can't predict what will happen. It's so hard not knowing why miscarriages happen so it would be good for more help from the government but I think it will take a long time before they find any answers.
  32. Lindsay Savege 18 Aug 2012
    I have experienced this myself and more recently had a good friend go through utter devastation. any progress is bound to help even just a little.
  33. Neil McLean 21 Aug 2012
    Support this petition please, thanks.
  34. Margaret McKeddie 21 Aug 2012
    People shouldn't have to suffer 3 times before someone takes action, we need to move quicker.
  35. Charles McKeddie 21 Aug 2012
    I saw my daughter go through this twice, it's heartbreaking for everyone. We need to take action a lot quicker to prevent losses as best we can
  36. Lee McKeddie 21 Aug 2012
    Let's take a stand and make a difference to people's lives!
  37. Anne-Marie Ramsay 21 Aug 2012
    It's not until you go through it yourself you realise how heartbreaking it is
  38. Kelly Rocke 21 Aug 2012
    No one should have to suffer this heartbreak three times before they can get answers!
  39. Beverley Donaldson 21 Aug 2012
    This is a must, it's got to happen.
  40. Alison 21 Aug 2012
    Saddest day of my life 13th Jan 2000 with no answer and no explanation!
  41. M Adams 21 Aug 2012
    One miscarriage is more than enough! I have recently suffered my 3rd, only now to be offered further support! It all comes down to the NHS and budgets, as usual! Time off work recovering from a miscarriage probably costs the government more!
  42. Ashley Hackett 22 Aug 2012
    Agree 100%
  43. Kathryn White 22 Aug 2012
    I found that there was a real lack of empathy from health professionals in relation to miscarriage. It appeared to me that because they see this happening every day its a case of "well thats life". This attitude only causes more distress to the women affected and adds to the feeling of helplessness. It is about time we stood up to this and demanded a change. Well done SCIM!!!
  44. Lynda 22 Aug 2012
    Lee -your so right to pursue this. Well done for not giving up!
  45. Mrs Sarah Sheldon 22 Aug 2012
    I can't express how important this is to me! I also was advised to go home, try again and after the next miscarriage, they would be able to test. My husband and I have only managed to concieve twice in 12 years of trying and there was a real lack of understanding as to how utterly devasting the most recent miscarriage was for us. I am still emotionally struggling with our loss 2 years later and a large part of that is due to the detached and cold advice that we got from the NHS. It is not so easy for some of us to just go home and get pregnant again
    - to have the third miscarriage for testing! There is a good chance that we will never concieve again and because of this blinkered rule, we have perhaps lost the only chance we had of finding out why!
  46. J Kaney 22 Aug 2012
    It's so difficult to pick yourself back up after the heartbreaking experience of miscarriage. Being given the option of testing as soon as possible helps greatly in taking those steps forward. How frightening it is to try again without some answers from medical professionals. Well done to SCIM for this campaign...and for all the wonderful work you do.
  47. Joanne Thomson 23 Aug 2012
    Having suffered 5 miscarriages I find it abominable that its only once you've had 3 that investigations are offered. I previously suffered 2 ectopic pregnancies, prior to the 5 miscarriages and finally gave birth to our son last November. Going through that was harrowing for my husband and I. Miscarriage should be investigated after one, no one should have to lose subsequent babies if it can be prevented. Taking 8 pregnancies to have my son took a horrendous toll on me and my body. Perhaps if I'd been offered tests to find the reason why I would not have gone through 7 years of pain.
  48. Christine Campbell 23 Aug 2012
    In this day and age mothers to be shouldn't have that worry on their minds. A change is needed to improve on how people are treated after 1 loss never mind 3.
  49. Donna Parkes 24 Aug 2012
    Something so worthwhile and under fuinded.
  50. kiara o'dowd 24 Aug 2012
    as someone who had 2 miscarriages it is very harsh to be told no one cares enough to find out why uour baby has died all miscarriages shold be investaged