Improving bereavement care for people in Northern Ireland affected by pregnancy or baby loss
Issued on 16 October by Sands UK
Sands, the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity, is introducing a National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP) across Northern Ireland, to help improve care for people who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss. The introduction of NBCP in Northern Ireland has been made possible by funding from the Public Health Agency (PHA) and aims to reduce inequalities and improve the quality of bereavement care provided to parents and families.
Good quality bereavement care is vital for parents who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy, or whose baby has died. This project will ensure parents are communicated with sensitively, have opportunities to make memories with their baby, and are supported with dignity and respect. Healthcare professionals will be supported with materials, resources, and training so that they can provide the best possible care at this vital time.
Heather Reid, Interim Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals at the PHA, said:
“We are delighted in partnership with Sands, to announce the appointment of the NBCP Project Manager for Northern Ireland, Melissa Crockett.
“Melissa will work closely with the PHA’s clinical lead for this area and together they will manage the development, delivery and review of the NBCP and embed its nine standards across Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland to help improve standards of bereavement care.
“The NBCP currently operates within England and Scotland and the PHA recognised a gap in the provision of the Pathway within Northern Ireland.
“Ultimately we hope this will ensure there is quality and consistency of bereavement care received by parents who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss across each of the five local Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland.”
Mike Nesbitt MLA, Minister of Health, said: “I am pleased to have the opportunity to welcome Melissa Crockett into her role of NBCP Project Manager, funded by the PHA.
“This is a very positive development for the provision of bereavement care for parents and families in Northern Ireland. When the Pathway is fully established and implemented, it will provide vital support and advice to our health professionals working in this important area of health care.
“I look forward to hearing about the progress of the NBCP and its integration across the Health and Social Care system in Northern Ireland.”
Clea Harmer, Chief Executive of Sands, said: “Everyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby deserves high quality bereavement care and support.
We know that no level of care can remove the grief that many parents will feel after pregnancy loss or the death of a baby, but good care can make this devastating experience feel more manageable. We also know that poor quality or insensitively delivered care can compound and exacerbate pain.
“This launch follows a huge amount of hard work together with our partner organisations. We are looking forward to working with bereaved parents, families and healthcare professionals to ensure the pathway is based on evidence and experience.
“We hope that through introducing a tailored National Bereavement Care Pathway in Northern Ireland, we can make sure everyone affected by pregnancy or baby loss gets the care that they need.”
Melissa Crockett, National Bereavement Care Pathway Manager for Northern Ireland, said: “Parent feedback has highlighted gaps in care and inconsistencies in the care received from hospital to hospital. We hope to give local bereaved families the opportunity to be heard and feed into the development of evidence-based Northern Ireland-specific bereavement care pathways, to make sure bereavement care is inclusive of everyone's individual needs and circumstances.
“We are grateful to the PHA for their support and funding of this project and look forward to collaborating with them and other stakeholders to improve support for bereaved families across Northern Ireland.”
More information about the National Bereavement Care Pathway in Northern Ireland
The project provides dedicated, evidence-based care guidance designed for all healthcare professionals and staff involved in the care of women, birthing people, partners and families at all stages of pregnancy and baby loss.
Five experiences of pregnancy or baby loss are included in the pathway project including miscarriage, TOPFA, stillbirth, neonatal death and SUDI.
Sands is here to support all bereaved families in Northern Ireland and across the UK. The charity provides support through its Freephone helpline, online community and resources, and through a network of regional support groups run by trained befrienders, all offering in-person peer support.
PHOTO CAPTION:
L-R – Heather Reid, Interim Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals at the PHA
Melissa Crockett, National Bereavement Care Pathway Manager for Northern Ireland
Minister of Health Mike Nesbitt, Catherine Keown, Chief Midwifery Officer, Department of Health Northern Ireland.
- Sands has led on the development of bereavement care pathways throughout the UK, collaborating with many charities, Royal Colleges, governments, and NHS bodies. This includes The National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP) in England (www.nbcpathway.org.uk) and Scotland (www.nbcpscotland.org.uk)
- The NBCP consists of guidance, principles, and standards to adhere to
- The NBCP in Northern Ireland is a two-year project, funded by Public Health Agency. It will be managed by Sands, and supported by a core group representing partner charities and professional organisations.
About Sands
Every day in the UK, 13 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth. And at least 15% of pregnancies end in miscarriage.
Sands is the UK's leading charity working to save babies' lives and support bereaved families. Sands’ vision is a world where fewer babies die and when a baby does die, anyone affected receives the best possible care and support for as long as it is needed.
Sands is here for anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby. The charity provides bereavement support services both nationally through its Freephone helpline, online community and resources, and locally through a network of around 110 regional support groups based across the UK and run by trained befrienders.
Sands works in partnership with health care professionals, trusts and health boards and offers a range of training programmes and bereavement care resources to ensure that every bereaved parent and family receives the best possible care wherever they are in the UK.
Sands supports and promotes research to better understand the causes of baby deaths and save babies’ lives. The charity also raises awareness of baby loss and works with governments, key influencers and other stakeholders to make reducing the number of babies dying a priority nationally and locally. www.sands.org.uk