During Baby Loss Awareness Week, Liberal Democrat MP Tessa Munt paid a heartfelt tribute in the House of Commons to Somerset’s former Conservative council leader John Osman and his wife Holly, who lost their much-loved twins in 2018.
John Osman, who led Somerset County Council from 2012 to 2017 and chaired the Somerset Rivers Authority, and his wife Holly experienced a devastating loss when their twins, Logan and Lottie, were born four months premature. Both babies died within an hour of their birth, leaving a profound impact on their family and community.
Addressing Parliament with Mrs. Osman watching from the public gallery, Ms. Munt emphasized the universal nature of such grief, transcending political divides, and the urgent need for better bereavement care. “This Baby Loss Awareness Week, we honor the children who are deeply missed and recognize the families who carry their memories every day," she said.
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Sharing personal reflections, Ms. Munt noted that the Osmans have two surviving six-year-old twins, Alex and Amelia. She also recounted the difficult moments the couple faced, including the painful process of registering Logan and Lottie’s births and deaths.
The Osmans benefited from exceptional care at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, particularly within its specialized ‘Forget Me Not’ suite designed to support bereaved families. John Osman described the brief lives of Logan and Lottie as a profound blessing that made their world perfect, affirming they would never be forgotten.
Ms. Munt stressed the critical role compassionate, expert bereavement care plays in helping grieving parents process trauma, create lasting memories, and begin healing. She highlighted a troubling statistic: only half of bereaved parents receive the support they need, and just 17% access it through the NHS.
Calling on the Department for Health and Social Care and Secretary of State Wes Streeting, Ms. Munt urged for nationwide standardization and improvement in bereavement services. “Excellent bereavement care should not be a matter of luck or postcode,” she asserted. Standardized pathways, timely referrals, and specialist mental health support are essential to minimize further trauma and help families through their loss.
Concluding her tribute, Ms. Munt thanked families like the Osmans for their courage in sharing their stories and underscored the commitment to ensure no parent faces such loss alone. “We cannot take away the pain of loss, but we can make sure every bereaved family receives the dignity, support, and understanding they deserve.”