Mother calls for action over mass baby graves

A mother whose stillborn son was buried in a mass grave has called for the government to do more to investigate how such burials were allowed to happen.

It took Gina Jacobs, of Woodchurch, Wirral, 53 years to find out what happened to her son Robert after he was born with his cord around his neck in February 1969.

More than 1,000 stillborn babies are buried in mass graves across the Wirral. A mass burial ground in Oldham, also contained more than 270 babies.

Gina has called for an official apology. The government said a "dedicated team" has now been set up.

The 81-year-old grandmother added: "I know things are busy and the country is in a terrible state but I would like to move things quicker.

"We have achieved a lot but I want that recognition from the government and perhaps the government's part in this."

She said: "Whoever was at the cemetery that day and in all the other cemeteries knew they were going in with someone else.

"They knew they were going in mass graves."

Before the 1980s, it was common practice for hospital staff to take away stillborn babies from mothers and buried in communal graves.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the scandal was "appalling and should never have been allowed to happen".

They added: "Ministers from across government have come together to discuss how best to support affected families, and a dedicated team has been set up to take this work forward.

"We will provide an update shortly."

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