Sands donation to help Moray families make special memories

The maternity team at Dr Gray’s Hospital were pleased to welcome Sands colleagues to the ward last month, bringing with them a beautiful hand weaved small crib and a new camera.

Marcia Dean, who is based in Elgin, is one of three bereavement specialist midwives who work alongside staff providing clinical care and emotional support to bereaved families across NHS Grampian.

Marcia explained: “Two of our Dr Gray’s midwives were given the opportunity to attend a photography training day in Aberdeen funded by Sands. They realised the camera and small crib they were using to help families create some special memories of their precious babies were outdated. Our local Moray Sands group was only too happy to help us update these and we are ever so grateful.”

NHS Grampian has a longstanding commitment to person-centred and trauma-informed approaches to supporting baby and pregnancy loss. Marcia and the other bereavement specialist midwives in Aberdeen have been instrumental in introducing and embedding The National Bereavement Pathways into maternity care in Grampian to improve the care and experiences of women and families.

Tina Megevand from Moray Sands said: “This is an example of how donations can make a big difference to the experiences of bereaved families. We are really pleased to be able to support the team at Dr Gray’s to deliver the best, most compassionate care.”

Anyone looking for support with pregnancy loss can get in touch with Sands via the Moray Sands Facebook page or via www.sands.org.uk The local group meets on the third Wednesday every month at the Mansion House in Elgin to support local families.

NHS Grampian’s bereavement support midwives can be contacted by emailing gram.bereavementsupportmaternity@nhs.scot and more information is also available on the Birth in Grampian website: https://www.birthingrampian.scot.nhs.uk/support-for-bereaved-families/

About Sands

Every day in the UK, 13 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth. Sands is the UK's leading charity working to save babies' lives and support bereaved families. Sands’ vision is a world where f ewer babies die and when a baby does die, anyone affected receives the best possible care and support for as long as it is needed.

Sands is here for anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby. The charity provides bereavement support services both nationally through its Freephone helpline, mobile app, online community and resources, and locally through a network of around 100 regional support groups based across the UK and run by trained befrienders.

Sands works in partnership with health care professionals, trusts and health boards and offers a range of training programmes and bereavement care resources to ensure that every bereaved parent and family receives the best possible care wherever they are in the UK.

Sands supports and promotes research to better understand the causes of baby deaths and save babies’ lives. The charity also raises awareness of baby loss and works with governments, key influencers and other stakeholders to make reducing the number of babies dying a priority nationally and locally. www.sands.org.uk