Glasgow health board offers automatic bereavement support after child death

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 07:32 · Archive

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has become the first health board in Scotland to automatically refer bereaved families to specialist support after a child's death.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has become the first health board in Scotland to introduce automatic referral to specialist bereavement support for families experiencing the death of a child. All parents experiencing the loss of a child, including through miscarriage, stillbirth, Termination of Pregnancy for Fetal Anomaly (TOPFA), neonatal death or the death of an older child, will be automatically referred to the Child Bereavement Support Service provided by Crossbasket House, part of Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity. The support covers losses from early miscarriage until the 26th birthday.

Previously, referrals were generally made by clinical teams or as part of the Child Death Review process. While many families were successfully connected with support through this approach, the new automatic referral creates a consistent pathway to ensure every bereaved parent is proactively offered specialist support. The development brings maternity services in line with support already available across the wider Women's and Children's Directorate.

Alanna McArdle, whose baby daughter Abbie died, said the Child Bereavement Support Service gave her family 'a safe, comforting place to speak with trained professionals' during what she described as 'the most unimaginable time' of their lives. The service continues to support bereaved families through monthly bereaved parents' groups as well as one-to-one meetings. Crossbasket House's specialist Child Bereavement Support Practitioners provide emotional support, practical guidance and care tailored to individual family needs.

How it is being reported

• Grieving Glasgow parents offered specialist bereavement support regardless of age or gestationFamilies experiencing the death of a baby or child - from early miscarriage until the day of their 26th birthday - will now be automatically offered specialist bereavement support.Glasgow Live · 21 Oct, 07:19
• Mum hails bereavement service rule change after 'unimaginable' loss of baby daughterGlasgow families are to be automatically offered specialist bereavement support after losing a child in a first-of-its-kind moveGlasgow Times · 20 Oct, 13:03

In this story: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde · Crossbasket House · Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity · Alanna McArdle · Glasgow

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