Miscarriage support services are “falling short”, with long delays for counselling and a lack of structured follow-up care, according to a new government report.
The Women’s Health and Wellbeing Assessment, which surveyed over 1,650 Islanders, also revealed that some women felt “abandoned and traumatised” by their experiences.
The stigma surrounding reproductive health was identified in the report as a key barrier to adequate support. It says: “Societal attitudes towards reproductive health, including miscarriage… leave many women without adequate care and support.”
However, participants in the health assessment also described feeling let down by services. They highlighted how the emotional and physical toll of miscarriage was compounded by “delays in service provision”, “financial burdens”, “shortcomings in mental-health support”, and the lack of structured follow-up care.
“Support following miscarriages was seen as minimal, with many reporting long waits for counselling, with some waiting up to six months before being seen by services like Talking Therapy,” the report continued.
“The absence of structured follow-up care pathways left women to navigate their grief and recovery on their own.
“Delays in service provision and the financial burdens faced by women further exacerbate the challenges.
“Enhanced funding and dedicated counselling environments are critical to addressing these gaps.”
One respondent, aged 35 to 44, described their experience as frightening and isolating: “There was no one to speak to about what my body was going through, which was frightening, distressing, and painful.”
Another participant, in the 55 to 64 age group, added: “There is very little support for early-pregnancy problems and miscarriage support.”
The report recommended several measures to address these issues, including enhanced funding, dedicated private counselling spaces, more clinics across different locations, flexible appointment times and improved digital access for bookings.
Expanding trauma-informed training for healthcare professionals was also suggested to improve support for patients.
Current challenges in miscarriage care are said to be linked to the loss of Jersey’s dedicated gynaecology ward, which was established in 1991 but was later repurposed due to funding cuts in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Rayner Ward, which provided private, sensitive care for women experiencing pregnancy complications, was converted into a general surgical unit shortly before the pandemic.
The government announced last month that a dedicated gynaecology ward, where sensitive matters could be dealt with in privacy, would be reintroduced this year.
