Recommendation 3: Bereavement care
From Thirlwall Inquiry Final Report, published 15 September 2026.
Recommendation
The National Bereavement Care Pathway for neonatal death should be implemented
nationally and in all Trusts by 31 August 2027.
In brief (written by this site)
Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, stated in September 2026 that all NHS trusts are signed up to implement the National Bereavement Care Pathway for neonatal death by 2027, with the department confirming that rollout is in progress (Yvette Cooper response, Sep 2026; Department of Health and Social Care, Sep 2026). In a letter published that month, Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England, and Sarah-Jane Marsh, NHS England Chief Operating Officer, found that integrated care boards and providers should take immediate action to improve care of the bereaved (Duncan Burton; Sarah-Jane Marsh, Sep 2026).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
And I agree with the report that, when the very worst happens and parents face bereavement, they need to be supported to the best of our ability. The report recommends the national bereavement care pathway for neonatal death should be rolled out in 2027. I agree and can confirm that all trusts are signed up to implement it - and I will ensure that it is repeated in all versions of the NHS planning framework while I am the Secretary of State.
Delivery
Department of Health and Social Care says in progress (15 September 2026)
continued rollout of the National Bereavement Care Pathway for families experiencing neonatal loss, with all NHS trusts now signed up to implement it
From: Government to act on Thirlwall patient safety recommendations
Site note: Department of Health and Social Care press release of 15 September 2026. The passage is one item in a list of measures the government says it has begun "while it considers the inquiry's recommendations in full"; the release does not number the recommendations. The recommendation is addressed to NHS trusts; this is the Department's account.
What other bodies have found
In their own words. These do not change the delivery statement above.
NHS England (22 September 2026)
National Bereavement Care Pathway for stillbirth and neonatal death: ICBs and providers should take immediate action to improve care of the bereaved as has already been set out in the Medium Term Planning Framework (October 2025)
From: Thirlwall Inquiry report and recommendations (letter PRN02660)
Site note: NHS England's letter to NHS trusts and integrated care boards (PRN02660), signed by Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England, and Sarah-Jane Marsh, NHS England Chief Operating Officer. The letter bears no date; NHS England published it on 22 September 2026, and it calls the leadership event of 22 September "tomorrow". The passage is under the letter's heading "Actions needed now". The recommendation is addressed to NHS trusts; this is NHS England's instruction to them, not a trust's own account.
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Department of Health and Social Care
Response, delivery statement - NHS England
Finding