Following an announcement in November that funding was being made available to improve hospital birthing environments, the Department of Health has now confirmed that around 20 hospitals will receive money to improve their on-site bereavement facilities.
NHS providers were invited to apply for funding to improve the birthing environment in the maternity units that needed it most, so both mothers and fathers, and the staff who work in the units, can benefit from a more pleasant and appropriate environment. The scheme particularly noted that "funding applications will be encourage for projects to support women and families when things go wrong, for example dedicated accommodation for bereaved families who babies were stillborn or for families whose babies are in special care, high-dependency care or intensive care baby units."
Hospitals listed below, will now receive funding towards the creation of bereavement suites, or the improvement of current bereavement facilities to ensure parents and families have a comfortable, private space following the death of their baby. Improvements to facilities for parents of babies on neonatal wards are also included.
The funding has been awarded to:
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust
Central Manchester Foundation Trust
East Lancashire Trust
Stockport Foundation Trust
Warrington & Halton Foundation Trust
The Birmingham Women’s NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
South Warwickshire NHS Trust
Walsall Health Care NHS Trust
Wye Valley NHS Trust
Basildon & Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Cambridge and University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Peterborough & Stamford Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust
Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital
Click here to read the Department of Health’s press release about the new funding awards.