Isle of Man to offer baby loss certificates to parents

Parents on the Isle of Man who have experienced the loss of a baby within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy will soon be able to request a bereavement certificate. These certificates, which were introduced in England in February, will be available for request on the Isle of Man starting this Friday. Dianne Rubery, bereavement lead for Manx Care’s Women, Children and Families Care Group, stated that her organization is dedicated to acknowledging the “impact and importance of the family’s loss”. To commemorate the launch, Manx Care is organizing a “Starlight Walk” for bereaved families, featuring lanterns and torches. Ms Rubery noted: “Pregnancy loss and support featured in the top five priorities identified in the Isle of Man Women’s Health Consultation, launched in August 2023.” She further explained that, until now, families on the Isle of Man were provided with an unofficial certificate from the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death (SANDs) charity. Families who have previously received an unofficial certificate will be eligible to apply for an official Baby Loss Certificate. Applications for these certificates will be accepted via the Jane Crookall Maternity Unit website beginning 29 November. Applicants must be at least 16 years old and have been residents on the island at the time of their baby’s loss. Additionally, they must be either one of the baby’s parents or a surrogate. Families who have experienced the loss of more than one pregnancy will be able to request separate certificates for each instance. The Starlight Walk, which aims to “reflect and raise awareness” of this initiative, is scheduled to start from the Roundhouse Community centre track in Braddan at 19:00 GMT. Those wishing to participate are required to register on the Roundhouse website.