A local charity is piloting a new referral service to support bereaved parents at the Emergency Unit (EU) at University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff.
2 Wish Upon A Star is working in partnership with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board to launch the new pathway which will help support parents after the death of a child within the EU.
Once a child or young person has passed away, EU staff can directly contact a 2 Wish Upon A Star Bereavement Support Worker, who will contact the family within two days to check if they need any help or support.
2 Wish Upon a Star is hoping the success of the new support scheme will enable it to be rolled out to other Emergency Unit’s throughout Wales so that families can get the support and advice they need at such a distressing time.
Founder of the charity Rhian Burke, recently met with Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething at the Emergency Unit at UHW to discuss the important work of the pathway and the new relationship that has been developed between the charity and EU staff.
The visit involved a look at the new bereavement suite and cold cot which has been donated to the unit through the work of the 2 Wish Upon A Star Charity. The bereavement suite and cold cot allows families in this situation to spend precious time with their baby before finally having to say goodbye.
Rhian Burke said: “The whole idea of the support scheme came about because families who have just lost a child or young person are not in the right frame of mind to go and seek help to deal with how they are feeling.
“Through the pathway the family can have a chat on the phone and request a home visit at a time convenient to them, if they feel they need it. As part of the pathway, the Bereavement Support Worker will contact the family again within seven to ten days of their loss and leave their contact details with the family, should they need further support.
“The charity will support the family through the shock and trauma of their loss, and they will be referred to our counselling service which would then lead into peer support groups for as long as the family need us.”
Sharon O’Brien, Lead Nurse for Emergency Medicine at UHW, said: “Bereavement is the worst part of our job but this pathway gives us the opportunity to help support families better at a time they most need it. As part of the pathway Rhian also spends time with our staff and provides advice and guidance to them.
“The bereavement room, cold cot and bereavement boxes provided by the charity have made such a difference to families and our staff who are dealing with loss and provide some comfort at a very difficult time.”
Vaughan Gething said: “I was pleased to meet Rhian to talk about the inspiring work 2 Wish Upon A Star does to support parents who have lost a child suddenly and unexpectedly. It is important people who are affected by a sudden bereavement are supported sensitively.
“Charities play a crucial role in supporting people and I am very happy to support such work being undertaken in partnership with the NHS.”
For more information about 2 Wish Upon A Star please visit: http://www.2wishuponastar.org/
