Introduction of baby loss certificates in Jersey 'would help bring comfort'

A campaigner has called for Jersey's government to introduce baby loss certificates.

Bereaved parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy in England can now receive a certificate in recognition of their loss.

Keeley Lengthorn, who has suffered child loss three times, said the certificates would help Jersey families with the grieving process.

The government said it was aware of the calls and would respond in due course.

Ms Lengthorn said: "You can get baby loss certificates in the island from the charity Philip's Footprints, but this shouldn't fall on them.

"Parents need to receive an official document from the government because I know how much comfort that brings after what I've been through."

The 41-year-old solicitor from the UK also campaigns for the creation of George's Law, named in memory of her son who died when she was 22 weeks pregnant.

Her proposed change would allow parents who lost a baby under 24 weeks to have statutory entitlement to three days' paid leave from work.

Jersey recently introduced a new law which means parents who suffer the loss of a child under the age of 18, including stillbirths, will be entitled to two weeks' unpaid leave from work.

Ms Lengthorn said this was a good first step but more needed to be done.

"You can apply for some financial hardship so that both parents get some money while they're off for those two weeks grieving," she said.

"I think now is the time to now go that bit more bit forward and have George's Law enacted as well.

"That would be just three days' paid leave, which we know is not enough, but it's a start."

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