NMH

NMH | 2024 208 Support Services T he Chaplaincy Department provide spiritual, emotional, grief and bereavement support to bereaved patients / families who have experienced early miscarriage, mid trimester loss, stillbirth, neonatal death and compassionate induction of labour. Spiritual/Religious and Practical Support The Chaplaincy Department recognises and values all belief systems in a developing multi-cultural society through co-ordination of appropriate chaplaincy services with representatives and ministers of all faiths and those of none. All services being led by the Chaplaincy Department are viewed through a broad lens therefore delivering a 21st century model of spirituality through providing appropriate support. Mortuary / Chapel of Rest The Chaplaincy Department take full responsibility for the management / co- ordination of the mortuary chapel of rest services. Activity Table 1 below shows the areas where support has been provided. The chaplaincy office is used as a quiet space providing spiritual, emotional, grief and bereavement support to bereaved families and to staff members. There is also 'other' unspecified and unplanned support provided: this support often occurs informally with staff, patients and their families Chaplaincy throughout the hospital. Also included in the 'other' support, is support provided to families whose baby's death had not been acknowledged in any way in the past. Many years ago the type of bereavement support which we have today, was not available to bereaved families. In some cases, the loss was never spoken about or acknowledged. Sometimes we are contacted by families (NMH patients) who are stuck in their grief work and journey, or siblings who have only learned about their mothers and fathers unspoken loss in their advancing years. In these situations, we offer the bereaved family appropriate emotional, spiritual, sociological support. We also offer the bereaved family an opportunity to attend our Remembrance Service, including having their baby's details entered into our remembrance book. In some circumstances we have led a very gentle private ritual or prayer service for the bereaved family if we feel it would help them to become unstuck in their grief work and journey forward. Remembrance The Chaplaincy Department organized and led liturgies throughout the year in the Hospital. This year's Remembrance Service took place in St Andrews Church Westland Row which was very well attended. Helen Miley, Chaplain. Table 1: Activity 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Services - naming / Baptisms/ removals 213 141 143 121 77 Stillbirth / IUD 113 113 103 148 113 Other support 70 72 75 80 81 Early miscarriage 10 7 10 4 2 Neonatal death 30 35 38 38 24 Termination of pregnancy 14 19 18 23 7 Refers to support offered and not actual cases. Bereavement CMS now care for patients following a loss <16 weeks estimated gestational age resulting in a decrease in numbers in 2024.

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