Supporting GPs to deliver miscarriage care

Miscarriage affects up to one in four pregnancies in Australia, yet many women and their partners report feeling unsupported during one of the most distressing experiences of their lives.
 
Around half of women experience ongoing psychological distress following miscarriage, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms.
 
Evidence shows emotional recovery is strongly influenced by the quality of care and communication received, with dismissive or overly clinical interactions linked to poorer outcomes.
 
In response, Dr Joanne Wong, a GP and researcher from the University of Western Australia, is examining how GPs can better support women and their partners following a miscarriage.
 
Dr Wong’s study builds on her 2025 research, Miscarriage communication in Australia: Insights from women and general practice trainees, extending those findings to create and evaluate practical communication tools for general practice.
 
‘Miscarriage care is emotionally complex for both patients and GPs,’ she said.
 
‘This project is about giving GPs the confidence and language to provide compassionate care when it matters most … it is focused on developing tools that are realistic for everyday practice.
 
‘There is a lot of evidence about what women and their partners need, but far less guidance on what GPs can practically do in the consultation room.’
 
For most women, a GP is the first point of contact for early pregnancy bleeding or miscarriage, and Dr Wong said general practice is also where women are often followed up over months or years.
 
‘Our role is not just medical management but providing continuity and emotional support during and after miscarriage,’ she said.
 
‘By providing practical tools and better support, we can also improve care for patients while also helping reduce burnout in the GP workforce.’
 
Recent national developments highlight the urgency of improving support.
 
In 2025, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists released Australia’s first national guideline for miscarriage, recurrent miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, with a strong emphasis on compassionate communication and follow-up care.
 
The definition of recurrent miscarriage has also been updated to two or more losses, enabling earlier investigation and support.
 
Gaps in rural miscarriage care have also been highlighted by advocacy group Pink Elephants, which has reviewed national and international evidence and best practice recommendations.
 
With increased national attention on miscarriage support, including recent Federal Government funding, the central role of general practice underscores the importance of equipping GPs with practical, evidence-based tools for compassionate care.
 
Dr Wong has been awarded a 2026 PhD Top Up Scholarship from the Australian General Practice Research Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the RACGP, which supports GP-led research with real world impact and a strong focus on community based care.
 
She was also recognised with the 2025 Professor Charlotte Hespe Research Award.
 
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GP research miscarriage care women’s health