Mrs Leia Robinson1
1King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco, Australia
Biography:
As a social worker in a tertiary hospital, I am committed to empowering individuals and supporting them through complex challenges. I work at King Edward Memorial Hospital in the Perinatal Loss Service and Gynae/Oncology clinics, providing psychosocial support, crisis intervention, and grief counselling. My background includes disability advocacy with the Disability Royal Commission and supporting women escaping domestic violence. I am currently contributing to national research and policy, including cervical cancer guidelines and cancer and homelessness studies. With strong leadership and interdisciplinary skills, I am dedicated to improving service delivery and patient outcomes through advocacy, education, and compassionate care.
Abstract:
Suicide is the leading cause of death in the perinatal period, and the risk of suicide is higher for women who have experienced a pregnancy or neonatal loss. Many women who experience miscarriage report inadequate follow-up care, limited information, and poor access to support services. At King Edward Memorial Hospital, a gap analysis identified a critical opportunity for intervention between birth, and the medical review at the Perinatal Loss Clinic appointment six to eight weeks later. The first eight weeks post-loss are crucial for emotional recovery, yet women who did not consent to immediate referrals waited six to eight weeks before being asked again, missing a vital window to offer support.
To address this gap, a new outpatient social work model was introduced to enhance engagement with bereavement services. This approach includes a personalised Perinatal Loss Support (PLS) introduction letter with direct contact pathways, and a two-week follow-up call to assess grief-related risk factors. Early anecdotal findings suggest that women who decline referrals whilst still on the ward, are more likely to accept support when contacted later, leading to increased engagement with specialised perinatal grief services.
These preliminary outcomes highlight the need for a standardised, multidisciplinary approach to perinatal grief and loss care. Providing timely, proactive outreach ensures that women receive the emotional and psychological support they need, rather than being left to navigate their grief alone. Ongoing evaluation of this model will help refine best practices and contribute to a more consistent response to perinatal loss across healthcare settings.