Bringing miscarriage support into the workplace

Recently, we sat down with David Simmons (Director, Supply Resilience - Department for Health and Social Care) to hear how his challenge has progressed and why it mattered to him personally.

Trigger warning: This story includes references to miscarriage. We share it with care and respect, in the belief that honest leadership on difficult topics helps build a better future.

Miscarriage affects one in four pregnancies.

But across many organisations, it remains a quiet and unsupported experience. David Simmons is helping to change that.

As a senior civil servant and 2021 Forward Institute Fellow, David has helped bring miscarriage support into the heart of government. His work is not about headlines or policies that sit on shelves. It is about practical, human leadership that makes the future better for thousands.

A space to think differently 

With nearly two decades in government, David joined the Fellowship seeking fresh insight. 

The programme gave him space to reflect, ask harder questions, and identify something he had been quietly holding for some time.

“You get pulled away from your desk, from your inbox, and you start to really think. You form deep connections with people. That makes the learning stick.”

A challenge close to home 

Like many Fellows, David’s leadership challenge began with a simple question, but one he found through sad personal circumstances. After he and his wife experienced a miscarriage, David found it hard to talk with friends, family or work colleagues  Twelve months on, feeling able to talk about it, he wondered what support would have been available in his organisation had he sought it?

The answer was very little - no specific HR guidance, no supportive information and no network to talk to others with similar experience.

Miscarriage is common, but it is rarely acknowledged at work. Support, if offered, is often informal and inconsistent. David knew that empathetic leaders could change that and in doing so would make a meaningful difference to people at a vulnerable moment in their lives.

Building on what already exists 

Alongside, founding a co-champion role for baby loss awareness in his organisation, developing a network of volunteers to offer support, and building an intranet platform to offer practical guidance for staff, David looked outward. He found the Miscarriage Association’s Pregnancy Loss Pledge and recognised its power as a tool for change. His focus became getting, first his own department, but then others to sign up and take action.

The pledge is a practical framework. It helps organisations put clear, compassionate support in place. It signals care from the top. It creates space for conversations that matter.

A quiet movement with growing momentum 

In October 2023, David was pivotal to DHSC becoming one of the first departments to sign the pledge. Since then, he has personally  influenced others across Government to follow suit through formal letters to organisation leaders, engagement at DG-level cross-government wellbeing forums, and regular communications to departmental HR leads.

As of January 2026, nine Government departments have signed the pledge, plus a raft of Arms Length Bodies and Executive Agencies, in total covering over 200,000 members of staff.

Leadership in action 

David’s approach is a powerful example of responsible leadership. He saw a gap, looked outward, and acted with care. He built on existing support rather than duplicating it. He used his influence to create momentum for change - not just for himself, but for others who may not feel able to ask for this support themselves.

This is what systemic leadership looks like. It starts with a conversation. It grows through trust, determination and compassion. It results in visible change that improves the lived experience of thousands.

How you can support 

If your organisation wants to improve how it supports colleagues experiencing miscarriage, you can:

• Check to see if your organisation is part of the Miscarriage Association’s Pregnancy Loss Pledge, if they aren’t then sign up.

• Connect with David and explore how to turn the pledge into action. Fill in the form here and we will put you in touch.

Better is possible and it often starts with leaders like David, choosing to speak up.