Scotland’s first dedicated baby loss ward has opened at University Hospital Wishaw.
The unit allows women to deliver stillborn babies in a separate location to labour wards. The rooms have a separate entrance, a dedicated midwife and are set away from a clinical environment.
Cheryl Clark, NHS Lanarkshire chief midwife, said: “There are a lot of grieving families out there in Lanarkshire. The loss of any baby is tragic and is a very distressing time for any family.
“While no facilities can lessen the grief and anguish bereaved parents may feel, we know how important well-designed bereavement suites are to ensure that appropriate care is delivered in the most sensitive environment possible.
“We recognise the importance of privacy and grieving in a quiet and protected space. Going forward, all women who suffer loss will be cared for in our dedicated baby loss facility, which is a suite away from labour ward.”
Louise Caldwell (pictured with husband Craig Caldwell) has campaigned after delivering her stillborn baby on a labour ward. She said: “It’s lovely seeing the rooms complete and operational. It’s surreal and overwhelming. I’m so relieved that women now have baby loss rooms to come to and deal with having a loss and the hardest time of their life.
“It’s such an emotional rollercoaster and it’s so surreal to be standing in these rooms now. It’s delightful but it’s so bittersweet as well knowing that these rooms as of tonight will be getting used.
Craig added: “I’m overwhelmed by how great the rooms look. The facilities are tremendous. There are going to be so many women and families benefiting from having this and avoiding the difficult experience that we and others have had to go through.”
Gavin Moir from Lanarkshire Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity supporting those affected by the death of a baby, commented: “The initial suite that was created about four years ago was a long time coming. Speaking with other parents from our support meetings, it quickly established that we needed to enhance it further.
“The changes that have taken place over the past 10 to 13 years are remarkable. When we had our loss, Fraser, we left the hospital with just a brown envelope with leaflets in it. From then, we’ve been advocating for change.
“The bereavement suite came first and you then had cold cots, cuddle cots and giving parents the chance to extend the time with their babies. This suite gives parents the chance to have the labour and all the aftercare in the one location where the facilities are excellent.
“This extension is a massive jump for the hospital. It is leaps and bounds ahead of other areas of Scotland and Sands are very proud to be part of what we have tried to achieve here today.”
