Launch of the Stillbirth Clinical Care Standard

We welcome the  launch of the Stillbirth Clinical Care Standard. Sadly, 6 babies are stillborn every day and according to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare, evidence suggests that 20-30% of stillbirths could be prevented with optimal care. The aim of the clinical standard is to reduce the number of women experiencing stillbirth, reduce unwarranted clinical variation in the prevention and investigation of stillbirth and support best practice in bereavement care for parents following any perinatal loss. Until now, there has not been a consistent approach to empowering women to understand the risks of stillbirth and to open up discussion about prevention. Women have also reported vastly different experiences in terms of how they have been treated post stillbirth. Our firm hopes that this framework ensures avoidable stillbirths are prevented and that all women who experience a stillbirth receive the support that is needed.
You can read the new clinical care standard here:
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-10/stillbirth_clinical_care_standard_2022.pdf