Sir Jeremy Hunt has called on ministers to change the law around maternity leave so that it can be delayed for those recently diagnosed with cancer. He cited data indicating that two women find out they have cancer during or shortly after pregnancy every day in the UK. Currently, maternity leave cannot be delayed in the UK, which Hunt argues forces mothers to sacrifice bonding time during treatment.
Hunt's advocacy is informed by personal experience, as he received a cancer diagnosis himself. The campaign to change maternity leave has received cross-party support, reflecting broad political consensus on the need for reform.
Mair's cancer diagnosis really impacted her and her early days as a mum for the second time.
The move is being led by Mummy's Star founder Pete Wallroth. Wallroth's personal tragedy motivates the push: his wife Mair was diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant in June 2012, gave birth two months later, and died that December. This devastating experience has fueled his determination to prevent other families from facing similar hardships.
Recent cases underscore the urgency of the issue. Ashleigh Eccles was diagnosed with cancer shortly after giving birth in 2023. Beth Dedman was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma shortly after giving birth to her first child in 2024. Anna Priest, a mother of three, battled breast cancer during her maternity leave, illustrating how cancer can disrupt this critical period for families.
We can't be penalising people unfairly just because they got a cancer diagnosis around their pregnancy.
Data from Mummy's Star charity shows that 94% of surveyed mothers reported disrupted maternity leave due to cancer, highlighting the widespread impact. The #SaveOurBond campaign is urging the government to allow maternity leave to be deferred until cancer treatment has finished, aiming to preserve bonding time for affected families.
A UK government spokesperson said they are exploring how to better support working families through a parental leave review. However, specific legislative details and a timeline for potential changes remain unclear as the review continues.
It all seemed like it was wrong, that something was missing. I was thinking 'that can't be right'. Everybody that I came across didn't really know how to tell me that [delaying maternity leave] wasn't even an option.