Publish date: 13 April 2023
A purpose-built baby bereavement suite currently under construction at Leighton Hospital in Crewe is set for completion this summer.
The suite will be located in Leighton Hospital’s maternity unit and will provide a private space where bereaved parents can spend time with their baby and the rest of their family, away from the labour ward. The suite has been designed to be a comfortable, non-clinical environment and features an outdoor space where families can spend time in the fresh air.
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT), which manages Leighton Hospital, has also commissioned an artist to create special artwork for the suite. Jac Seifert is a Graphic Artist and Designer who creates bespoke artwork and has also been commissioned to work on Crewe’s Royal Arcade.
Jac will be holding a series of workshops with local bereaved families, so that their experiences can guide her work on the suite. Many of these families have been at the heart of this project from its inception, helping to raise funds to begin the construction of the suite.
The funding for the suite was raised through a fundraising appeal organised by Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity (MCH Charity), a registered charity that supports the work of MCHFT by providing funding for state-of-the-art equipment, new facilities, and extras to improve patient experience.
The appeal, called Lost Little Ones, was launched in 2019 and raised £100,000 by early 2021, thanks to support from local people and businesses who donated and fundraised for the appeal. Part of the development of the suite has also been funded by Leighton Hospital’s onsite contractors, Robertson Construction.
The completion of the dedicated bereavement suite will be an important step in improving the experience of parents who, sadly, experience baby loss at Leighton Hospital. The suite will help provide parents with the time and space they need to create precious memories with their baby that will last a lifetime. Bereaved parents are also supported by MCHFT’s Specialist Bereavement Midwife, Kelly Heaton.
MCH Charity are still raising funds through the Lost Little Ones Appeal, to fund soft furnishings and extras that will make the bereavement suite feel as comfortable as possible. If you would like to donate, you can do so here.
If you have experienced baby loss and are interested in taking part in the workshops with Jac, to help guide the artwork for the suite, please email: deborah.riding@mcht.nhs.uk
