Supporting families after infant loss: Why our partnership with the Foundation for Infant Loss matters
Medical negligence solicitor Caroline Webber-Brown gives a personal view on the issue of baby loss.
As Baby Loss Awareness Week approaches, I have been reflecting on the families my colleague Oliver Thorne and I have supported over the years following the loss of a baby. Although every family’s experience is different, there is often one common theme. Parents are not simply looking for legal advice. They are looking for answers. They want to understand what happened, whether it could have been prevented, and whether anything can be learned to help prevent another family from experiencing the same loss.
Exclusive Foundation for Infant Loss legal panel members for Devon and Cornwall
Oliver, Clarissa Ellerington and I have acted for families following stillbirth, neonatal death and serious failures in maternity and neonatal care. We have represented parents in cases involving failures in foetal monitoring, delays in emergency delivery, neonatal infection and sepsis, and other significant complications arising during pregnancy, labour and delivery. We have also supported families through investigations and inquests, helping them navigate processes that can often feel overwhelming at an already devastating time.
That is why we are proud to have joined the Foundation for Infant Loss as its exclusive legal panel member for Devon and Cornwall.
The Foundation for Infant Loss
The Foundation provides a vital source of support for families affected by baby loss. Its work goes far beyond signposting services. It provides understanding, education, advocacy, and practical assistance for families who are trying to make sense of unimaginable circumstances.
What attracted us to the Foundation was its focus on families. That might sound simple, but it is often what matters most. Parents who come to us are usually trying to make sense of something unimaginable. They are looking for answers to questions that have often gone unanswered for months, sometimes years.
We see our role as helping families find those answers. That may involve reviewing records, making sense of investigation reports, supporting families through an inquest, or advising whether there are grounds for a legal claim. Oliver regularly represents families at inquests arising from stillbirths and neonatal deaths, while Clarissa and I have supported many families affected by infant loss and serious failings in maternity care. Although every family’s story is different, what they are often seeking is the same: an honest understanding of what happened to their baby and the reassurance that their concerns are being properly heard.
Slee Blackwell welcomed as panel members by the founder of the Foundation for Infant Loss
Dr Chantal Fowler Lockey BEM, Founder of the Foundation for Infant Loss, recently said:
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Slee Blackwell as our exclusive legal panel member for Cornwall and Devon. Having access to trusted, highly specialised legal advice is vital for families who are seeking answers about their care, and Slee Blackwell brings both the deep expertise and the profound empathy that this sensitive work demands.
As we approach Baby Loss Awareness Week, this partnership highlights our shared dedication not only to supporting grieving families but also to driving real change in maternity safety.
By committing to our specialist training, the team at Slee Blackwell are actively investing in a deeper understanding of maternity safety and trauma-informed communication. Together, we are ensuring that families are listened to, their experiences are respected, and that crucial lessons are learned to improve future outcomes.”
Specialist training
As part of this partnership, our team will undertake specialist training provided by the Foundation, covering subjects including maternity safety, CTG interpretation, and trauma-informed communication. We see this as a valuable opportunity to continue developing our expertise, deepen our understanding of the challenges faced by bereaved families and learn from those working to improve maternity care and safety across the UK. That is why this partnership matters to us.
We look forward to working closely with the Foundation over the coming year and contributing to its important work.
As we mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, we are proud to stand alongside the Foundation for Infant Loss in supporting bereaved families, promoting better understanding of infant loss and working towards safer maternity care for future generations.
