Bereavement counselling service expanded Women's Hospital
A new service for parents who have experienced baby loss during pregnancy or shortly after birth has launched at our Women’s Hospital.
Petals, the UK's specialist baby loss counselling charity will be providing a new service, expanding existing access to vital mental health support for bereaved parents across the West Midlands.
The partnership, funded by Postcode Lottery players and an anonymous partner in the financial services industry, will provide specialist support for up to 200 bereaved parents within two years.
Alison Rea, Senior Bereavement Midwife at our Women’s Hospital, said: “We see first-hand how vital it is for bereaved families to receive the right support during what is often one of the most difficult times in their lives.
“The specialist counselling provided by Petals will enhance the services and support we already offer to women and their families, helping to ensure they have access to compassionate, expert care when they need it most. We are proud to be part of this important initiative.”
The service will provide specialist counselling for parents affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, termination for medical reasons and pregnancy loss.
Counsellors use an evidence-based therapy programme and are specially trained to provide a safe space for both parents to process their trauma during online sessions at no cost to the family.
By embedding specialist counselling services within maternity settings, hospital partnerships help ensure more families can access support in a way that reflects their individual experiences, backgrounds and needs.
Karen Burgess, Founder and Chief Executive at Petals said: “I am delighted to be launching this service in partnership with Birmingham Women’s Hospital, enabling Birmingham parents experiencing baby loss to have direct access into our online specialist counselling service.
“We are grateful to Postcode Lottery players and our corporate donor for collaborating with us to fund this service over the next two years, and we wish to thank everyone who has gone above and beyond to make this all possible.”
Parents consistently describe the counselling they receive from Petals as transformative, with one client describing it as a "gateway back to life" after loss.
The launch of the service was marked with a celebration of tea and cake at Woodland House, our dedicated space for families that experience the loss of a baby, which was funded by our Women’s Hospital Charity.
You can find out more about the bereavement services offered at our Women’s and Children’s Hospitals here: Bereavement Services | Birmingham Women's and Children's