MP Sarah Gibson has renewed her call for the Government to support families affected by historic cases of baby loss — using her first appearance back in the House of Commons after treatment for an autoimmune condition to highlight the issue.
During a Commons debate on baby loss earlier this week, Ms Gibson shared the story of her Calne constituent, John Murphy, whose family has lived for decades with the pain of losing a baby and never knowing exactly where she was buried.
John’s sister was stillborn in 1960 and buried in an unmarked communal grave at Battle Cemetery in Reading - a discovery the family only made many years later.
Ms Gibson urged the Government to act now to support families like the Murphys, calling for memorials to be placed at cemeteries where these historic burials occurred.
Her comments follow the Health Secretary’s promise, made before Parliament’s October recess, to meet with affected families - a meeting that is still to be confirmed.
Speaking after the debate, Ms Gibson said: “These families have carried their grief without support for many years. It is time their pain was recognised. Families with stillborn children deserve a place to remember them and mourn.
“The campaign has drawn national attention after revelations that tens of thousands of stillborn babies were buried in unmarked or communal graves across the UK up until the late 1980s. Many families only discovered this in recent years, prompting calls for access to burial records and for memorials to be created at burial sites.
“I will continue to plead support from all political parties and push for the Government to erect memorials without delay.”
According to campaigners, around 89,000 stillborn babies were buried in unmarked communal graves across the UK up until the late 1980s.
Ms Gibson has tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament to secure Government action on the issue, which can be read here.
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