Building work to deliver a new £228k Maternity Bereavement Suite at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS FT (QEH), is underway.
The service will provide a dedicated facility to support families who have experienced the loss of a baby either during pregnancy or shortly after birth. Residents in the local community have named it The Butterfly Suite.
The quiet and private area will enable parents time to create precious memories with their baby or grieve their loss, in a safe and comfortable environment separate from the clinical setting.
The appeal for the suite at QEH was launched by the trust in early 2020. The redevelopment received the go-ahead following funds raised through the support of the local community and the trust’s own charity. The appeal was further supported by the Lynn News after becoming its Charity of the Year in 2020.
Amanda Price-Davey, QEH’s Head of Midwifery, said: “Losing a baby at any stage of pregnancy is a very traumatic experience, so to be able to offer families the use of The Butterfly Suite from this winter is so important. Families will be able to spend time with their baby, make precious memories and begin to grieve their loss while being supported by the midwives, chaplains and bereavement staff.”
Professor Steve Barnett, QEH Chairman, said: “The Butterfly Suite will make a positive difference to the experience of our patients and their families who are going through their most difficult time. We know that from feedback from our patients that this space is very much needed, so I’m extremely pleased to see building work commence today which is a significant step forward in our work to further improve the experience of our patients and their families.”
In order to make the suite as homely and comforting as possible for families, fundraising efforts are continuing to enable the purchase of much-needed furnishings.
The unit is expected to open this winter.
