Study Backs Earlier Miscarriage Care That Could Prevent 10,000 Losses a Year

Overview

• The Tommy’s-led pilot, published Wednesday, reports that a graded miscarriage-care pathway could prevent about 10,075 losses each year in the UK.
• The graded model offers a nurse consultation after a first miscarriage, targeted blood tests for anaemia and thyroid function after a second, and current standard care after a third.
• In the trial of 203 women on the graded pathway versus 203 with usual care, clinicians found risk factors in 86% of the early-care group compared with 58% on standard care.
• Women in the graded-care arm had a 4% lower risk of a subsequent miscarriage, with Tommy’s estimating first-year NHS savings of more than £40 million and saying units can deliver this without significant extra workload.
• The Department of Health and Social Care said it will consider the findings within the Women’s Health Strategy, Scotland has started integrating the model, and the Birmingham pilot has concluded so its unit no longer offers the extra support.