Miscarriage Collection Cradle

Problem

Miscarriage affects around one in four pregnancies, equating to 250,000 cases each year in the UK (Government Pregnancy Loss Review, 2023). Most occur in the first trimester, when home management is clinically appropriate and recommended by NICE Guidelines. However, there is no reliable or dignified method to collect pregnancy tissue outside surgery.

As a result, women are often forced to improvise using household items or are directed to hospitals where they use sick bowls to collect baby amongst blood, urine and feces. Many attend A&E or Early Pregnancy Units seeking guidance, despite 1 in 5 not requiring medical intervention. This places avoidable pressure on NHS services, increases waiting times, and drives unnecessary surgical procedures.

Current pathways fail to meet core patient needs: dignity, choice, privacy, and the ability to manage miscarriage safely at home while retaining options for cytogenetic testing, burial, or cremation.

Solution

The Miscarriage Collection Cradle gives women a genuine choice in how they manage their miscarriage by providing the first reliable, purpose-designed Medical Device for collecting pregnancy tissue safely at home. It addresses a critical gap, enabling safe community care, reducing avoidable hospital admissions and surgery, improving patient experience, and delivering measurable NHS cost savings.

It is issued to patients in Early Pregnancy Units, gynaecology departments and A&E when miscarriage is diagnosed or suspected. The device fits securely beneath a standard toilet seat, allowing normal use while safely filtering and retaining pregnancy tissue without contamination or direct handling. The integrated Collection Cradle transfers directly into a sealed container for testing, burial, or cremation.

This enables more women to safely manage miscarriage at home, reducing unnecessary hospital attendance, surgical intervention, and demand on NHS services. It directly supports NHS Core20PLUS5 priorities by improving access for underserved populations, including those in deprived areas, rural and coastal communities, women from ethnic minority backgrounds, and those facing practical barriers such as transport, childcare, or insecure employment.

By enabling safe care at home, the innovation reduces inequalities in access, improves patient experience, and supports delivery of equitable, community-based miscarriage care aligned with national NHS priorities.

Impact

Hospitals using the Miscarriage Collection Cradle report strong patient uptake and significant improvements in patient experience. One patient shared that it “allowed the miscarriage to happen at home with the support of family in familiar surroundings.” Women consistently report feeling more supported, with greater privacy, dignity and control during miscarriage.

Clinicians report improved ability to provide compassionate, practical care. One Early Pregnancy Nurse stated, “The Miscarriage Collection Cradle allows us to offer a more compassionate, dignified, and trauma-informed approach to care.” Staff report increased confidence supporting home management and clearer conversations with patients.

Services report more women choosing home management, reducing reliance on hospital-based care and avoidable A&E attendances.

Independent health economic analysis and clinical interviews indicate reduced hospital utilisation and potential cost savings. A full real-world multi-site evaluation is planned to quantify clinical outcomes, patient experience improvements and system-wide impact.