18/12/2023
Parents in the Fermanagh and Omagh area who receive devastating news that their baby has died will now have a place to spend precious time and say goodbye, in a purpose built bereavement suite at South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen. This suite which opened on 18th December 2023 was jointly funded by the Western Trust and Sands, the UK’s leading baby loss charity.
The Western Trust worked in partnership with Sands Northern Ireland and local bereaved parents to make the ‘Forget Me Not’ suite project at South West Acute Hospital a reality.
A special thanks to the bereaved families who have tirelessly fundraised for this suite and whose commitment and attention to detail in the planning and designing of the room has been exemplary.
Helping to officially open the ‘Forget Me Not’ Suite, Western Trust Chair Dr Tom Frawley, said:
“The opening of the new Forget Me Not Suite at South West Acute Hospital is an important development in the provision of bereavement care and support for parents and their families in response to what is a devastating event in their lives.
“We wanted a warm, pleasant environment for families to feel supported and secure, and to create the feeling of a normal living space where they can express how they feel in private. It is designed for families to remain longer if they so wish with their baby. The design, decoration and organisation of the Suite was lead and co-produced by families who themselves have previously experienced baby loss. One of the features is that there is a door into the suite that facilitates families entering without passing the labour ward.
“The Trust would like to acknowledge the generous funding made available by Sands and by bereaved parents to create this facility. The Trust would like to thank all the families involved in the co-production, to our Maternity team and SWAH Management Contracts Team for all their hard work.”
Steven Guy, Network Coordinator for Sands in Northern Ireland, said:
“The new Forget Me Not suite is another milestone for the Sands Northern Ireland Network and we are delighted that it is now complete. Sands are always looking for ways to improve the bereavement care given to parents and the new suite will enhance the excellent care provided in South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen to bereaved parents for many years to come.
“Together with the Western Trust, we involved the families in the design as they have the lived experience and insight into what they found helpful when they experienced their own loss. They chose unique colours that they wouldn’t be likely to have at home, so they would only associate this with a specific experience and are not reminded of their loss when they’re out and about.”
Michelle Howard, bereaved mum and befriender for Sands said:
“I’m delighted that the Forget Me Not bereavement suite has been completed. I am delighted and honoured to have been involved in the project. From having experience of using the room that is now the new bereavement suite in 2017 when we lost our beautiful little boy Ronan, I have no doubt that this new facility will ensure those parents who unfortunately find themselves in the position of needing to use the suite, have a home like environment to go to.
“I hope that the space created will allow those safe in order for those using the room to be able to create precious memories and spend precious time with their beautiful baby. It’s vitally important to have such a space at one of the most difficult times in your life.”
Dervla Cassidy, Mummy to Cahan said:
“The significance of the opening of the Forget Me Not Bereavement Suite in SWAH cannot be stressed enough. This service will be invaluable to parents who have to face the heart-breaking loss of their much loved baby. To have a more personalised, comfortable and family friendly suite, will ensure they can avoid the clinical environment, which can often make the trauma worse. The fact that bereaved parents have been allowed to work with the team to create this suite, shows that the needs of bereaved parents really have been at the forefront of the planning of this project.
“Bereaved parents will hopefully feel that their heartbreak is acknowledged and their baby is valued. Brenda McCabe has been such a wonderful advocate for this project and all the little babies lost. She has our heartfelt thanks.”
Sands support groups meet on a monthly basis across Northern Ireland. The groups are run by bereaved parents to help support other bereaved parents. For further information call Steven Guy, Sands’ Northern Ireland Network Co-ordinator on 07587248977 or email steven.guy@sands.org.uk