Bereavement Care Standards
An NHS Board that meets these standards is considered to be providing good bereavement care.
Parent Focused Care
- A parent led approach is taken, providing continuity of care and management of transitions between settings and into any subsequent pregnancies.
- All bereaved parents are supported to mark their loss and offered opportunities to make memories.
- All units have access to a room where bereavement care can be provided in a suitable and sensitive environment.
Staffing
- Bereavement care training is provided to all staff who come into contact with bereaved parents, and staff are supported by their Board to access this training.
- There is a strategic bereavement lead in every Health Board in whose settings a pregnancy or baby loss may occur.
- Healthcare staff are provided with, and can access, support and resources to deliver high quality bereavement care.
Communication
- All bereaved parents are informed about and, if requested, referred for emotional support and for specialist mental health support when needed.
- All staff listen carefully to bereaved parents, offer them informed choices about their care and the care of their babies, and are guided by their wishes.
- A system is in place to rapidly signal to all healthcare professionals and staff that a parent has experienced a bereavement to enable continuity of care.
