A report commissioned by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), and authored by researchers at University College Cork and the University of Galway, has recommended that a statutory right to paid leave should be introduced for pre-viability pregnancy loss – regardless of the gestational stage or the reason for the loss.

In November, members of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group attended and presented posters at the Association of Early Pregnancy Units (AEPU) Annual Scientific Meeting in the UK. Professor Keelin O’Donoghue, Dr Deirdre Hayes Ryan, Dr Laura Linehan and Dr David Synnott shared recent work from the Group on recurrent miscarriage, infertility, ectopic pregnancy and biochemistry and molecular science / molar pregnancy.

A paper led by Dr Peter Jackson has won the Health Service Executive (HSE) Open Access Research Award in the Acute Care and Hospitals category. Titled ‘Fatal fetal anomaly: Experiences of women and their partners’, this paper explores the care experiences of parents whose pregnancy was diagnosed with a fatal fetal anomaly following the legalisation of termination of pregnancy in 2019 in Ireland. Congratulations to Peter, and his supervisors – Dr Stacey Power-Walsh, Dr Rebecca Dennehy and Professor Keelin O'Donoghue – on this award!

On 28 November, Professor Keelin O’Donoghue, Ruadh Kelly-Harrington, Marita Hennessy PhD and Professor Mary Donnelly (School of Law) briefed members of the Oireachtas on the findings of the PLACES Project on behalf of the research team.

At an ordinary meeting of Cork City Council, held on 09 October – the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week 2023, members considered and approved a motion calling on Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to improve and standardise miscarriage care and services nationally.

Members of the PLRG attended the Hospice Friendly Hospitals Maternity & Perinatal Loss Network Meeting 2023 on Wednesday 08 November in Dublin – the first meeting held since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Members of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group shared research on various aspects of termination of pregnancy at a one-day conference hosted by the ReproCit Project titled ‘After the Review: What Next for Irish Abortion Services?’. Research presented included healthcare professionals’ knowledge and clinical practice, fetal anomaly diagnosis and termination of pregnancy, women and men’s experiences of pregnancy with fetal anomaly, and a review of the first three years of inpatient service.

The Perinatal Pathology Team at Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital were highly commended for their project titled “Development of a Novel Specialist Perinatal Medical Scientist Programme” under the Innovation in Service Delivery Category at the 2023 Health Services Excellence Awards. The Team travelled to Dublin on 05 October to present their project at the selection event in Dr Steeven’s Hospital.

This Baby Loss Awareness Week, the Pregnancy Loss Research Group has launched a ‘Call to Action’ to increase awareness and action around pregnancy loss. Titled ‘Why don’t we talk about pregnancy loss?’, the document outlines key statistics around the incidence of pregnancy loss in Ireland.

Members of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group presented a range of work from the Group at the 2023 ISPID International Conference held in Florence from 05-08 October.