BEREAVEMENT CARE IN MATERNITY UNITS

The other evening the House of Commons had a civilised and compelling half-an-hour discussion which honoured all the MPs who took part and who were there. It was initiated by Will Quince and Antoinette Sandbach, two Tory MPs who made deeply moving and vastly effective speeches from experience. The minister responded positively and well.

The discussion was about bereavement care in maternity units and the importance of dedicated facilities and understanding, empathising staff. You can read it in Hansard 2 November 2015 beginning at column 844. A few of the examples of “care” given are very distressing and troubling; they are thankfully matched by examples of genuinely caring and supportive staff.

I very much hope we shall see excellent dedicated bereavement care facilities in maternity units in every hospital.