Women and birthing people being cared for at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust who are likely to experience pregnancy loss from 18 weeks gestation, will now have the option to receive their care at either of the Trust’s maternity units at Darlington Memorial Hospital or the University Hospital of North Durham, helping to support families to create parent-led care plans and access to specialist bereavement facilities and support.
While the Trust actively develops proposals for a bereavement suite at Darlington Memorial Hospital, women, birthing people and their families can now be transferred to the Serenity Suite at University Hospital of North Durham, if it is clinically safe to do so.
This specialised suite provides a sensitive and supportive environment for families facing pregnancy loss, creating a private and compassionate space. It is exclusively used where families have already experienced, or are likely to soon experience, pregnancy loss from 18 weeks gestation.
The self-contained suite features an adjoining delivery room, ensuring that families have the privacy and comfort they need during this difficult time. Thoughtfully equipped with an en-suite wet room, a double bed, dining table and chairs, and comfortable seating, the Serenity Suite incorporates homely touches to help families feel supported and at ease.
In addition to the suite’s amenities, families will have access to an adjacent kitchen, fitted with a kettle, fridge, and microwave, allowing them to prepare food and drinks in a peaceful environment.
The Trust is dedicated to creating a bereavement suite similar to the Serenity Suite at Darlington Memorial Hospital and is actively working towards making this a reality. This partnership between sites will enable our maternity services to deliver individualised and supportive care to families experiencing bereavement, showing our continued commitment to providing, safe, compassionate and joined-up care during these difficult times.