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After experiencing four miscarriages, Oliver Dent, a firefighter from Hatfield, has called for better support for emergency service workers who have gone through pregnancy loss. Mr. Dent said that he was accused by Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service of “putting the service under strain” due to taking time off to grieve. He has since assisted the service in reviewing its baby loss policy and guidance, and has urged other emergency services to do the same.
Mr. Dent claims he was placed on “sickness monitoring” and was not contacted by anyone from the brigade while he was off work over his fiancée’s miscarriages. He expressed his stress and how being accused of putting the service under strain made it even worse. The NHS reports that one in eight pregnancies ends in miscarriage, while the loss of three or more pregnancies in a row affects about one in 100 women.
The fire service has accepted that it should have done more to help Mr. Dent. Chief Fire Officer, Alex Woodman, acknowledged that the service wasn’t there for him when he needed it the most. They had worked with Mr. Dent, his fiancée, Caitlin Phillips-Diggons, and the charity Tommys to review its baby loss policy and guidance in response. Acas mentions in its guidelines that employers should consider offering time off work, but those who have had a miscarriage are not entitled to statutory leave.
It is crucial to have clear and empathetic policies in place to support all team members affected by pregnancy loss, including dads and partners, according to Jo Barclay-Bowen, Tommy’s Deputy Director of Partnerships. In 2022, a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development revealed that around a quarter of employees who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss considered quitting their current jobs. NHS England announced earlier this year that its staff would be eligible for paid leave if they, or their partners, experienced a miscarriage
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