What is the National Bereavement Care Pathway?
The National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP) is a framework for the provision of high quality, consistent and equitable bereavement care across hospital Trusts and Health Boards throughout the UK.
It is designed to ensure that bereaved families receive compassionate, personalised care following pregnancy loss or the death of a baby, no matter what kind of loss they experience or where in the UK this happens.
Sands is instrumental in the delivery of the National Bereavement Care Pathway, providing tailored pathways for:
- Miscarriage, ectopic and molar pregnancy
- Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly
- Stillbirth
- Neonatal death
- Sudden unexpected death of an infant
Each of the four nations in the UK has its own NBCP programme and resources, click below to find out more.
NBCP in England
Led by Sands, the NBCP in England is a nationally endorsed framework, with two pathways mandated in NHS England’s Medium Term Planning Framework.
NBCP in Wales
The NBCP in Wales has been through consultation and co-development, and is currently being implemented.
NBCP in Scotland
The NBCP in Scotland is embedded within the Best Start: Five-Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care as a key requirement.
NBCP in Northern Ireland
Work is underway in Northern Ireland to develop five bereavement care pathways and standards.
NBCP drop-ins
Healthcare professionals involved in improving care for bereaved families are invited to our monthly drop-in sessions.