Thanks to a number of very generous donations, the Southern Health and Social Care Trust is able to begin work on a new Bereavement Suite within the Delivery Suite at Daisy Hill Hospital.
Staff Midwife Aine Cunningham has raised a significant £15,171.55 towards the Bereavement Suite in memory of her baby boy Eoghan who was born sleeping at 35 weeks.
SANDs (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity) has also passed on £15,000 donated from a number of local organisations towards the new suite.
Thanking all of those who donated Joanne McGlade, Lead Midwife for Daisy Hill Hospital said: “Sadly every week in Northern Ireland, four babies are stillborn or die in the first four weeks of their life.
“Work is ongoing across the UK to try to reduce stillbirths and neonatal deaths which are so distressing for families and the staff involved.
“Our Maternity, Bereavement, Patient Support and Chaplaincy teams work with charities like SANDS to practically and emotionally support families following the loss of a baby.
“Whilst we have a number of measures in place to support families, for example using cuddle cots and helping them to make memories, the new bereavement suite is such a welcome addition to our facilities, allowing us to give families much more privacy during such a difficult time.
“We would like to thank SANDS, Aine who has taken the time following her own loss and all those others who have so generously donated to offer this support.”
The new Bereavement Suite is planned to be in operation by spring 2018.
For more information and advice following the loss of a baby www.sandsni.org
