# Stillbirth burials contact in every NHS trust

> “Within 4 weeks, all Trusts must ensure a dedicated point of contact within their PALS service, or an equivalent named service, to support families seeking answers.”
>
> — Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Labour Party; Written ministerial statement, 13 October 2026

- **Status:** Promised
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Health](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/health)
- **Speaker:** [Yvette Cooper](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/yvette-cooper), Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
- **Party:** [Labour Party](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/labour)
- **Made on:** 13 October 2026
- **Where:** Written ministerial statement
- **Deadline:** 10 November 2026
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** Families seeking answers about stillborn babies buried or cremated without their parents' involvement until the mid-1980s
- **When:** Within 4 weeks of the statement of 13 October 2026
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-10-13/HCWS374 (checked word for word on 16 October 2026; Open Parliament Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 16 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-stillbirth-burials-contact-2026

## Where it stands

Until the mid-1980s, some stillborn babies across the United Kingdom were buried or cremated without their parents' involvement; the Health Secretary apologised on behalf of the government. The statement says all Trusts must have a dedicated point of contact in their PALS service, or an equivalent named service, for families seeking answers, and that guidance produced by Sands is going to all Trusts. "Within 4 weeks" of the 13 October 2026 statement is read as 10 November 2026. The card moves when Trusts confirm their contacts.

## Timeline

- 13 October 2026, Promised: The Health Secretary says all Trusts must have a dedicated point of contact for families seeking answers within 4 weeks
- 10 November 2026, Deadline (to come): A dedicated point of contact due in every Trust by 10 November 2026

## About the cost

No cost has been published.

## Sources

- [Written ministerial statement HCWS374, 13 Oct 2026: Historical Stillbirth Burials and Cremations](https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-10-13/HCWS374)

## Checks

- Checked automatically by AI Journalist, not yet verified by an editor.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 16 October 2026.

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