WARRINGTON Hospital’s maternity bereavement suite – The Butterfly Suite – has undergone a full refurbishment thanks to a local charity and a number of businesses.
It now has two dedicated bereavement suites with en-suite facilities and a kitchen area – providing families with homely accommodation offering comfort and privacy at a difficult time in their lives.
The suite was officially opened by the Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Revd Beverley Mason and hospital chief executive Mel Pickup and chairman, Steve McGuirk.
Local charity Harry and Co have supported the hospital in developing their bereavement facilities following the loss of their child, Harry, who was stillborn in 2010.
The original Butterfly Suite suite was made possible by the charity.
Kate Tinker, founder of Harry and Co explained how she and her husband Chris launched the charity after their world came crashing down after losing their child in 2010.
They realised that while the bereavement suit was a lovely concept, it required closer attention to detail.
“That is exactly what we have done over the last nine years.
“We invested heavily in the memory making area, so families had something to take away with them as we left the hospital with nothing.”
Bishop Mason carried out a blessing of the suite.
She said her first pastoral situation as a “new” bishop was meeting and praying with a young mum whose baby had just died.
“I could only imagine the shock, trauma, bewilderment and utter desolation; having to repeat the hollow words to well-wishers who hadn’t heard, and somehow trying to make sense of the senseless. The care and compassion of the nurses and the Butterfly Suite made a real difference.
“I am so thankful for Kate and Chris’s vision for this place and for the imagination, empathy and generosity of many others who have made the opening of this suite possible today.”
Satish Hulikere, clinical director for the Women’s and Children’s unit said: “All our families are able to stay for as long as they wish in the bespoke rooms located in a separate area of our labour ward. The rooms are tastefully furnished and colour co-ordinated in pastel colours, each has its own small kitchen area and en-suite facilities.
“Parents have the opportunity to spend precious time with their baby in these rooms and the chance to create special memories. Siblings, family members and friends are all made very welcome. Our facilities, memory making and bereavement service continues to go from strength to strength and in 2018 we received a Butterfly Award for the best hospital bereavement service and our latest CQC report highlighted the bereavement service as an outstanding area of practice. This is made possible by working together with Harry and Co and other local and national charities, the families themselves and our dedicated staff to achieve the best that we can in the most difficult of circumstances.”
One of the Butterfly Suites
