Dignity Care Network: Improving access to safe, dignified and compassionate miscarriage care
In this case study, we highlight Dignity Care Network, a participant on the Accelerating FemTech: Evaluate programme who are looking to improve the support for women experiencing pregnancy loss.
Helping women with miscarriage care
It is estimated that one in four pregnancies end in loss across the UK, with limited research on the causes of and potential treatments for miscarriage. The Miscarriage Association has made steps to define research priorities, with unanswered questioned on the mental and physical affects for mothers and their partners, as well as the clinical value of current miscarriage investigations.
The Miscarriage Collection Cradle is a patented Medical Device designed to safely and reliably collect pregnancy tissue during miscarriage outside of surgical intervention. Most importantly, it prioritises safety, hygiene and choice for people experiencing pregnancy loss.
The Cradle can be used at home or in hospital, with an easy-to-use design that fits inside any standard toilet. It features a specially designed gap to prevent contamination; filtration system to support hygiene; a removable sieve with handles to collect pregnancy tissue with minimal exposure; and an opaque container to keep pregnancy tissue safe for examination by a health professional.
A solution driven by personal experience and co-design
Dignity Care Network Founder Laura Corcoran’s journey began from personal experience of recurrent miscarriage. In February 2024, she was horrified to be sent home from hospital due to long waiting times, meaning she was left to manage a miscarriage on her own. She resorted to using a kitchen sieve to catch her baby over the toilet and storing them in a takeaway container.
Realising there was a need for compassionate and equitable miscarriage care, Laura was determined to improve the support available to anyone miscarrying their baby.
An engineer by profession, Laura co-designed the Miscarriage Collection Cradle with input from families who have experienced pregnancy loss, alongside Early Pregnancy, bereavement and gynaecology teams from two NHS hospitals.
“Having worked in gynaecology for over 12 years, I’ve seen firsthand how emotionally and physically challenging a miscarriage can be for women. Going through a miscarriage is one of the hardest experiences anyone can face. It’s raw, painful, and often feels isolating… This miscarriage collection kit is more than just a product – it’s a small but powerful way to help women hold onto their dignity in a moment that can feel so overwhelming. It brings a level of care and dignity to the process that has often been missing, especially when women have to manage miscarriage at home... For anyone working in women’s health or going through this journey personally, this kit is a huge step forward—one that truly changes the way miscarriage care can and should be delivered.” Early Pregnancy Nurse, Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust
Rapid development to spread and adoption
Within six weeks of launching, Laura had received the first NHS purchase order. Eight months after, the Cradle is now being used in 21 NHS hospitals, as well as being classified as a Medical Device with UK, EU and FDA Class I regulatory approval and a granted patent.
The positive impact on patients has been huge, with one sharing: "Knowing my baby was being safely and respectfully collected made a huge difference to my mental health." Another patient said: “I cannot imagine how I would have coped without the Collection Cradle, it allowed me to focus on myself without the added stress of trying to hold something in place… It made a huge difference to my mental health and I am so grateful for it.”
Outside of the UK, the Cradle is now being used in six hospitals in Ireland and a hospital in Malta, with expansion underway in six additional countries.
It is also being adopted by universities in seven countries to provide clinical training for midwives, including the University of Sheffield, University of Middlesex, Hochschule Fulda – University of Applied Sciences in Germany and Karel de Grote University College in Belgium.
How the Accelerating FemTech: Evaluate programme helped
Laura joined the programme looking to better understand the NHS landscape and develop a clear evaluation pathway.
Being on the programme provided a fast track for Dignity Care Network to gain access to policymakers, commissioners and investors, providing opportunities that would otherwise be much harder to initiate.
Networking events with other innovators and senior clinical leaders were invaluable, leading to the development of trusted relationships and critical connections.
“I would strongly recommend the programme. The network and relationships developed will have a lasting impact on scaling the innovation and improving dignified miscarriage care.” Laura Corcoran, Managing Director, Dignity Care Network
What next for Dignity Care Network?
The annual short-term economic costs of miscarriage is estimated to be £471 million. An independent economic report shows that just 50% adoption of the Cradle could save the NHS £11.2 million every year, free up 12,000 gynaecology surgery slots and reduce Emergency Department admissions by 10,000 annually.
Laura is looking to roll out the Miscarriage Collection Cradle across the NHS, providing every woman with dignified miscarriage care, despite constrained local procurement budgets. Laura continues to engage with policy makers at the Department of Health and Social Care and hopes their support will lead to further implementation across the UK.
Laura continues to work with women and families affected by pregnancy loss. She welcomes anyone who would like to share their experience of pregnancy loss to get in touch to help shape the Cradle and drive systemic change. Share your story on the Dignity Care Network website here.
Laura is calling on healthcare leaders and political decision makers to support adoption of the Collection Cradle across individual hospitals, NHS Trusts, ICBs and at national level. If you are in a position to influence policy, procurement or clinical practice, please get in touch to help bring dignified, compassionate miscarriage care to every woman who needs it.
Dignity Care Network is part of Accelerating FemTech: Evaluate. This cohort ran from November 2025 until February 2026.
Accelerating FemTech: Evaluate is an Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst Accelerator delivered by the Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London, DigitalHealth.London and partners from across the UK.
