Health minister to look into still birth law

Frazer Leckey and Hayley Petts, alongside MP for East Worthing and Shoreham Tim Loughton, met with Mr Poulter last Wednesday.

Mr Loughton introduced a Private Members Bill earlier this year after he learned of Frazer and Hayley’s story – their son Samuel was classed as a mid-trimester miscarriage, despite the fact Hayley gave birth to him and the couple held him in their arms.

Mr Loughton called for a revision to the Births and Deaths Registration Act and argued the case for formal registration of still born babies born under the current 24 week threshold.

Mr Poulter promised to look at the issue in more detail and take it up with the president of The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Mr Loughton then met representatives of the Royal College the following day who were ‘supportive’ of the reforms and said that they would report back to colleagues.