Bereavement - Supporting you through loss

Bereavement - Supporting you through loss

We are sorry if you find yourself here following the loss of your baby or you are supporting a friend or family member. During this difficult time, we hope to reassure you that your care and support is of the utmost importance to us, and we have the facilities and resources to offer you, your partner and baby the best care we can. 

All our hospitals within the trust have a designated Bereavement Midwife, who form part of a team of professionals passionate about providing the best bereavement care to support your physical and emotional needs. Together we will walk you through this delicate journey step by step. 

There is a designated bereavement suite on each site offering the time, space, and facilities necessary to support your stay, and offers the opportunity to make memories with your baby. This includes support from the chaplaincy team, professional photographer, contracted funeral directors and local support groups and charities. 

Contact us

We welcome you to contact the team at your local hospital site to discuss any concerns and access further support. 

Basildon — call 07824461004 or now 0300 443 1377 using extension 1516, alternatively you can email mse.btuh.maternity-bereavement@nhs.net 

Broomfield — call 07785956140 or 0300 443 7702, alternatively you can email mse.maternitybereavement@nhs.net.

Southend — call 07775030394 or 0300 443 0048 using extension 7093, alternatively you can email mse.southendmaternitybereavement@nhs.net

Our bereavement suites

Each of our main hospital sites has a dedicated bereavement suite for parents  who have lost their little one.

To find out more about them, please expand the sections below:

Basildon - Forget me not suite

A collage of photos showing the Basildon maternity suite

The Forget me not suite, was established in 1996 and funded by families who had suffered a baby loss. It started off as a single room but now includes an en-suite shower room, a separate kitchen and lounge, and a foyer area where our tree of remembrance is situated.

This suite aims to provide a home from home environment away from the main area of delivery suite where parents can spend time creating precious memories.

The suite has cold cot and cuddle cot facilities and all items needed to enable the family to create memories.

Location

The Forget me not suite can be found just inside the entrance to the Delivery suite on level C.

Bereavement suites are only available at certain times — therefore please call the maternity bereavement midwives to discuss if it's free for use.

Broomfield - Blossom suite

A collage of photos showing the Broomfield maternity suite

The Blossom suite is a home away from home environment with private en-suite, kitchen area and memory room.

The suite is equipped with toiletries, memory making items and everything needed for your child. 

There’s also access to a cold cot and cuddle cot for your baby. 

Location

The Blossom suite can be found on Labour ward, A402.

Bereavement suites are only available at certain times — therefore please call the maternity bereavement midwives to discuss if it's free for use.

Bereavement garden

A collage of photos showing the Broomfield maternity garden

At Broomfield there is a garden, which is a safe and welcoming sanctuary for families who have lost their baby. This space gives families a place to return to, after they had gone home, to feel connected to their little one.

Careful research and thought went into the design and choosing the plants to make it fit for purpose, making it a peaceful place where families can pause and reflect.

Benches and a butterfly screen offer individual areas for people to use, and the location in the woods led to the opportunity to plant bluebells and incorporate the woods into the garden, giving the impression that the garden continues and on, like the never-ending love parents have for their babies. 

The Blossom Garden cost £25,000 and was funded by Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity.

Currently this is the only bereavement space outside of the hospital environment, however, we are looking to make outside spaces available at Basildon and Southend in the future.

Southend - Butterfly suite

A collage of photos showing the Southend maternity suite

The Butterfly suite aims to provide a home from home environment away from the main area of delivery suite.

The suite has an en-suite shower room and kitchen area, equipped with toiletries and tea/coffee making facilities.

There’s also cold cot and cuddle cot facilities. All items needed to enable the family to make memories and spend time with their baby are all present in the room.

Should the Butterfly Suite already be occupied we offer bereaved families, care in MLBU 1 and 4 which are quieter labour rooms with en-suite comfort facilities, and all cold cot, cuddle cot facilities and memory making items are still available.

Location

The Butterfly suite can be found on Central Delivery Suite, just inside the entrance to the ward.

Bereavement suites are only available at certain times — therefore please call the maternity bereavement midwives to discuss if it's free for use.

Support groups

Finding strength through loss

We don’t want you to have to go through your loss alone, whether you want to share memories of your baby or talk about how you’re feeling, there are a variety of support options available when you are ready. Some are listed below, but if you want some other suggestions please talk to your bereavement midwife.

LGBTQ+ families support

Maternity bereavement experience survey

Your opinion matters

This questionnaire is for parents who have experienced the loss of their baby/babies during pregnancy or shortly after birth, and have used the Blossom, Butterfly or Forget me not bereavement services.  Your feedback will help us audit the care we give and make improvements where necessary.