Hospital Maternity Service Shortlisted for Prestigious National Award
Date posted: 17th February 2017
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) is pleased to announce that its Maternity service has been nominated and shortlisted for the Sands ‘Award for Bereavement Care’ in this year’s Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Annual Midwifery Awards.
The Bereavement Maternity Service, based at the Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre at Burnley General Hospital, is one of just four services shortlisted for this prestigious national award.
“For a number of years, East Lancs Hospitals has had a specialist service offering advice and support to bereaved parents and families whom suffer the death of their baby” explains ELHT Bereavement Support Midwife, Louise Bardon.
“We have a wonderful team of Obstetric Consultants, Doctors, Midwives and many other staff who are highly committed to providing bereavement services. They dedicate themselves to saving babies lives and in the devastating case a family loses their baby they go above and beyond by trying to ensure some comfort.”
The support offered to parents following a bereavement includes: two bereavement suites featuring a double bedroom, en-suite shower/bathroom, living space and fitted kitchen area. Created with funding received from local parents, both bereavement suites give parents and families the comfort of remaining together during their time in hospital.
Louise and a colleague presented the ELHT bereavement service to a judging panel in London back in November to showcase their achievements and have fingers crossed for the Awards ceremony in London on Tuesday 7th March.
Angela O’Toole, Head of Midwifery for the Trust, said: “This nomination is a fantastic accolade for the department and all the staff involved with delivering the midwifery service. The Trust was named ‘Maternity Service of the Year’ at the 2014 RCM Awards and we look forward to celebrating the very best NHS maternity services in London next month.”