Sara Britcliffe, Member of Parliament for Hyndburn and Haslingden, held a debate in Parliament on 19 July 2023, on the pregnancy-related condition hyperemesis gravidarum. This followed the tragic passing of Accrington woman Jessica Cronshaw, who passed after suffering with the condition at 28 weeks pregnant with her baby Elsie.
Jessica’s family and her partner were in Westminster for the debate. The Hyndburn MP used part of her speech to read out the family’s words about Jessica, her life, and her experience of hyperemesis gravidarum, more commonly known as HG.
Ms Britcliffe then went on to call for reforms to the treatment of women with HG, including breaking down stigma, better mental health support, more nutritional advice, and a more formalised approach to prescribing medication.
Women’s Health Minister Maria Caulfield MP then responded and committed to working with Ms Britcliffe and Jess’s family to securing the legacy of Jess and her baby Elsie, to ensure that no woman goes through what Jess went through again.
Sara Britcliffe MP commented:
It was an honour to be given permission by Jess’s family to read their words in Parliament, using my position as a Member of Parliament to give them a voice.
What Jess and Elsie went through was horrendous, and it is clear we need much more support for women with HG, and much better training for midwives and GPs when they are treating a woman with HG.
I hope the debate was a starting point for change, and we can now all work together on making a positive difference for women’s health.
