The National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP) in Northern Ireland consists of care pathways, training and resources with the aim of achieving equitable, high-quality bereavement care for every parent and every family, every time there is a pregnancy loss or the death of a baby.
NBCP Northern Ireland includes tailored pathways for:
- Miscarriage, ectopic and molar pregnancy
- Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly
- Stillbirth
- Neonatal death
- Sudden unexpected death of an infant (up to 24 months)
Resources for healthcare staff
The NBCP Northern Ireland pathways will be available soon.
Resources for staff in Northern Ireland are hosted on Padlet.
Resources for staff in Northern Ireland
How is the NBPC being implemented in Northern Ireland?
Work is currently focused on developing five bereavement care pathways and standards to support consistent, equitable bereavemnt care across all Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts. Each pathway working group is led by a third sector partner, with the pathways shaped and informed by local healthcare staff, and reviewed by subject matter experts and bereaved parents through the Parent Advisory Group.
Partners and supporting organisations
The NBCP in Northern Ireland is being led by Sands in collaboration with the Public Health Agency (PHA).
A multi-disciplinary Steering Committee has been established to support the successful delivery of the project. Membership includes the Public Health Agency (PHA), the Department of Health (DoH) and representatives from professional bodies such as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the Royal College of Nurses (RCN).
The committee also brings together various professionals from the six Health and Social care trusts (HSCT), alongside a range of third-sector organisations including ARC, Bliss, Miscarriage UK and TinyLife. These partnerships play a vital role in ensuring that care reflects the needs and experiences of families, with clear signposting to support available beyond hospital and healthcare environments.
This collaborative approach brings together learning from where the NBCP has been successfully implemented elsewhere, the knowledge and expertise of local professionals across Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts, and the lived experiences of local bereaved parents. This ensures that the NBCP reflects the needs, context and services within Northern Ireland.
Find out more
If you are working alongside bereaved families in NI and would like to find out, more please contact melissa.crockett@sands.org.uk.
You can also sign up to Sands' Professionals Bulletin below. Sign up to our Professionals Bulletin