A local Stockton company has donated a pram to help support parents who have experienced the loss of a baby when an inpatient at the University Hospital of North Tees.
W.H. Watts, a Stockton-based supplier of prams, pushchairs, and nursery furniture, donated the pram after hospital colleagues were looking for a way to offer more privacy and dignity to families during an incredibly difficult time.
The pram, which includes a privacy screen, allows parents to take their baby for a final walk or accompany them to the mortuary in a way that feels more personal and respectful.
Upmost respect
Neil Wdowikowski, mortuary and bereavement service manager, said: “We are aware that the hospital can be a very busy place and we always want to make sure we are showing the upmost respect and compassion possible to support those going through the loss of a baby.
“We realised that we could still be doing more and so we looked into purchasing a pram with a privacy screen. This generous donation by the team at W.H. Watts is amazing and goes a long way in helping us to provide that service.
“My goal was to give parents the choice of being able transport their babies to our mortuary family room in that unimaginable moment. It’s about giving parents the option to take that last walk with their child rather than having to walk away leaving them on a busy ward.”
The idea came after Neil and the mortuary team reviewed current practices and looked on some online forums to better understand the experiences of bereaved parents. Many spoke of the difficulty of saying goodbye on a busy ward and then having to leave their baby behind or watch someone else take their child away.
Donation
Neil approached NTH Solutions procurement support officer Melissa Loughran, who investigated where the team may be able to purchase a bereavement support pram. Melissa then contacted W.H. Watts to explore options.
The company checked their stock and soon came back with an offer to instead donate a pram that met the mortuary teams specifications.
Melissa said: “The whole of the procurement team were completely overwhelmed by W.H. Watts generosity when we heard they would like to donate the pram rather than have us pay for it. We’re so grateful for their kind and generous donation.
“The loss of a baby is such an emotive subject and it’s nice to think that we can support those parents to say their goodbyes when the unthinkable happens.”
Support
Rachel Shaw from W.H. Watts met with Neil and Melissa in the mortuary family room in November to deliver the new pram to the hospital.
Rachel said: “My manager and I agreed that we would love to support the hospital with this donation.
“We have helped other hospital trusts in the past and it was an honour to know our donation would go towards supporting parents at such a difficult time.”
The pram will be available for use by families who wish to spend time with their baby in a way that feels right for them – whether that’s a quiet walk or a visit to the family room in the mortuary.