Alison receives prestigious silver award for gold-standard bereavement care
A bereavement midwife at our Women’s Hospital who has led the
development of our pioneering Woodland House project has been recognised for her achievements with a prestigious national award.
Alison Rea, senior bereavement midwife, has been handed a Chief Midwifery Officer (CMO) Silver Award for playing an instrumental role in the creation of Woodland House, our purpose-built bereavement centre at BWH, which was opened earlier this year.
The CMO Silver Award is a national honour and rewards the significant and outstanding contribution made by midwives in England and their exceptional contribution to midwifery practice. Alison received her award during a visit to our Women’s Hospital by Kate Brintworth, Chief Midwifery Officer for England, and Sandra Smith, Regional Chief Midwife for the Midlands.
Alison said: “I am completely shocked to have received this award, but also very grateful to be honoured in this way. Woodland House is going to have an impact on some many families at an incredibly tough time and it was important that we made it a reality. It was a team effort which would not have been possible without the backing of the whole Trust, our charity and estates colleagues.
“Most of all, I am incredibly grateful to the families who have helped us along the way. Their experiences have helped to shape how we will provide high-quality bereavement care in the future and we couldn’t have done this without them.”
At BWH, we care for more than 2,000 grieving families every year who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. And while every loss is a devastating and uniquely personal experience, having a dedicated space which recognises and honours loss allows those families to grieve in private away from the hustle and bustle of the main hospital.
Woodland House has been created alongside bereaved families and with their thoughts, feedback and requirements at the very forefront of its construction.
Rachel Carter MBE, Director of Midwifery and Deputy Chief Nurse (Women’s), who nominated Alison for the award, said: “Alison has been the driving force behind the creation of Woodland House and her passion for the project really made it a reality.
“She has been the champion for our bereaved families, making sure their experiences and voices have been heard throughout, and focussed on ensuring that Woodland House is the best possible facility for bereavement care. We’re incredibly proud of her and she thoroughly deserves this recognition.”