The Still-Birth (Definition) Bill [HL] would amend the legal definition of stillbirth in England and Wales to apply from 20 weeks into a pregnancy, rather than the current 24 weeks. It is scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 4 July 2025.
Still-Birth (Definition) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 39 of 2024–25 (309 KB , PDF)
The Still-Birth (Definition) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat). It would amend the legal definition of stillbirth in England and Wales to apply from 20 weeks into a pregnancy, rather than the current 24 weeks, for the purposes of registering births and deaths. It would also extend entitlement to statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance to women who lose a baby after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Currently, maternity pay and leave, maternity allowance, paternity pay and leave, and parental bereavement pay and leave are available only to people whose baby is stillborn after 24 weeks.
Since 2024, people who live in England who have lost a baby before 24 weeks have the option to apply for a baby loss certificate. These were introduced following a recommendation from an independent pregnancy loss review commissioned by the Conservative government. However, miscarriage support organisations and the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee argue that there are gaps in the provision of statutory support for people who lose a baby before 24 weeks. The government has said it supports the principle of bereavement leave for pregnancy loss and will look at it further in the context of the Employment Rights Bill currently going through Parliament.
Still-Birth (Definition) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 39 of 2024–25 (309 KB , PDF)
Highlighting the human and economic costs of accidents, and rising rates of accidental deaths in the UK, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has called for the government to create a national accident prevention strategy. RoSPA argues that currently, responsibility for accident prevention is too fragmented. The government has not yet commented on this proposal.
In recent years, resident doctors (formerly known as junior doctors) have faced increased competition for specialty training roles. Doctors can apply for specialty training after completing two years of foundation placements. While NHS England is in the process of reviewing postgraduate training for medics, the government’s new 10 year plan for the NHS has pledged to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors with significant NHS experience for specialty training. The plan also included an ambition to create more specialist posts.
Premature deaths from cardiovascular disease were decreasing until 2019, but have since risen. The government has said it aims to reduce premature deaths from heart disease and strokes by 25% within a decade. While local authorities must commission ‘health checks’ to assess risk factors in 40- to 74-year-olds, the National Audit Office found variable delivery, uptake and regional inequalities. Health organisations have called for a dedicated strategy on cardiovascular disease.
