Live webchat with Labour shadow health secretary Andy Burnham on our Miscarriage Care campaign: WEDNESDAY 1.45pm

[RowanMumsnet]

We're pleased to announce that Andy Burnham, MP for Leigh and Labour's shadow health secretary, will be joining us for a webchat on Wednesday at 1.45pm to talk about Labour's response to our Miscarriage Care campaign.

Andy has been MP for Leigh since 2001, and has been Labour's health shadow for four years after standing in the 2010 leadership election. In government, he worked in the Home Office and was Secretary of State for Health. He's also known for his work on the campaign to find out the truth about what happened at Hillsborough.

As you may know, we're asking Andy (along with the Conservative and LibDem health ministers) to include a commitment to better miscarriage care in the manifestos for the 2015 election. Do check out our campaign and our video - and please join us on Wednesday at 1.45pm. If you can't be there at the time, please post up your questions here in advance.

Thanks
MNHQ

[Mumzy]

We'll I hope they will declare how they are going to fund this additional service as the NHS is already stretched to breaking point and services are being withdrawn by stealth

[Mumzy]

So if it's in the manifesto is it definitely going to happen then?

[Mumzy]

I agree Support for women who have experienced MC is important and as someone who had a MC it is a harrowing time. But Im also fed up with politicians coming onto Internet forums just before election time pledging support for a highly emotive area of health care which they have no clear financial means of supporting. I want to know from AB how is labour going to fund this support or is he going to have to cut another service to fund it. The NHS has already been pared to the bone we NHS staff are struggling on a daily basis just to meet existing health needs. At my trust we triple book every appointment slot to meet government targets on waiting times and end up seeing at least twice as patients as we did 10 years ago in the same amount of clinic time We have an increasing and ageing population but no additional funding we staff are at breaking point and the NHS is treated by politicians as a vote winner/loser delete as appropriate So AB needs to spells out exactly how he is going to pay for more services before I will take anything he and Labour says seriously.

[Hoppinggreen]

When I had my mc my treatment was so bad I ended up going private and changing to an NHS hospital in the next town for my next 2 ( successful) pregnancies.
I believe Labour were actually in power at that point so I am slightly skeptical that they would change anything.
However, I appreciate Mr Burnham coming on here to discuss this important issue and hope that should Labour be elected again they stick to their promises

[VikkiMumsnet]

Here's Andy's video message from our web chat earlier.

[RowanMumsnet]

Thanks Madrigals.

Please keep up the tweeting, Facebooking and emailing - now that we have Labour's pledge we need to try to get the other parties to match it.

Suggested tweet (although of course feel free to do your own):

Hi @Jeremy_Hunt & @normanlamb pls join @andyburnhammp in pledging to improve #miscarriagecare by 2015. tiny.mn/1sbGQYv

[BuntyCollocks]

You seem like a thoroughly decent bloke. Labour have my vote in the next election. My local Labour MP was absolutely excellent in oiling the wheels of a ridiculous NHS policy and actually getting my daughter the treatment she needed for severe reflux.

[kittykitty]

Just heard the manifesto news - that's brilliant to hear.

[TheStandard]

Sorry to hear that burgesshillmama

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Bounty - often a mild irritation when all is well, but if you're baby has died and you're asked intrusive questions by a Bounty rep (has happened on many occasions unbelievably) you start to realise just how inappropriate their presence really is. (Not my own experience I just read widely on here!)

But again thanks for your solid answer to meet with a group of MNers to discuss the issues further. That's much appreciated too

[AndyBurnhamMP]

I'm afraid I'll have to sign off now but thanks for having me on and well done on a brilliant campaign. It will make a difference and help improve our NHS. But I expect you to keep the pressure up and hold me to all the things I've said today. Thanks again and all the best

Andy

[burgesshillmama]

I'm really encouraged to hear this Andy, thank you for responding. I would also like to add that I would like to see some form of future governance in the aggressive marketing that women are subjected to upon confirming their pregnancy with their doctors. I was told on Monday by a nurse upon receiving news of a suspected miscarriage that I would have to personally request not to receive any further marketing communications. I find this unacceptable especially when so little practical information and support seems to be available for women who have miscarried.

[brandnewinformation]

Very pleased to hear about the manifesto commitment - thank you so much for listening to Mumsnetters

[AndyBurnhamMP]

@undertheduvet

I have to say the Wigan Wrightington and Leigh in your constituency were great when I suffered my miscarriage. The EPU was self referal (not sure if that is still the case) and was in a totally different hospital in a totally different town (leigh) to the maternity unit (wigan), which was a great relief.
The staff were kind and helpful and when i went back with a subsequent pregnancy were reassuring.
I just wanted you to know that there are some good units about. I appreciate that this wont be possible in most NHS trusts but I appreciated it

Really pleased to hear that - I'm very proud of Leigh Infirmary and the staff will appreciate your words.

[TheStandard]

Or did you not mean that sarcastically...

I'll shut up now

[AndyBurnhamMP]

@brandnewinformation

Hi Andy. Do you support Mumsnet's Bounty Mutiny campaign to get commercial sales reps off maternity wards? What would you do about it if you got in?

Another case where individual hospitals seem to be able to do whatever they like and it's really farking annoying.

Remember this when mine were born - it did feel a bit inappropriate. I would have a look at it again and would be happy to meet a group of you to see what changes might be needed.

[TheStandard]

Oh, will the LibDems not do it? Why not? Are they just frit of promising anything after tuition fees?

[AndyBurnhamMP]

@TheStandard

woooooop! Thanks Andy

One down, two to go

Good luck with the Lib Dems!

[undertheduvet]

I have to say the Wigan Wrightington and Leigh in your constituency were great when I suffered my miscarriage. The EPU was self referal (not sure if that is still the case) and was in a totally different hospital in a totally different town (leigh) to the maternity unit (wigan), which was a great relief.
The staff were kind and helpful and when i went back with a subsequent pregnancy were reassuring.
I just wanted you to know that there are some good units about. I appreciate that this wont be possible in most NHS trusts but I appreciated it

[AndyBurnhamMP]

@woeface

Oh that's FANTASTIC news! Wow.
Can you just explain for a political novice what the timescale of this will be - and also how the success of the commitment will be measured?

I don't want to be a typical politician and make promises I can't keep but I want to see major progress on all five MN points over the course of the next Parliament. I will know we have succeeded if there isn't a new MN campaign to have me sacked!

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Completely agree that the NHS needs rescuing from fragmentation and privatisation.

I'm not a great fan of the privatised rail service either since I got fined a fortune for inadvertently having the wrong ticket for the wrong type of train. Bring back good old BR!

But anyway hate the tory privatised model for our health and education service

[badooby]

Dang general elections