October 2020 update
Clea Harmer, Sands Chief Executive
Since the spring Sands has continued to work collaboratively with other baby loss charities, the Royal Colleges, Scottish Government and bereaved parents. Our 5 early adopter Boards - NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Fife, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Grampian and NHS Lothian - began working with the pathways in March this year. They fully resumed their pilot projects in September, discussing the new pathways with colleagues and planning how to build on existing good practice. We were delighted to hear the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing speak about the value of the pathways in the Scottish Parliament and announce funding until March 2022.
We have been asking Boards for feedback on whether COVID-19 measures have made it harder to deliver good bereavement care, and inevitably there has been an impact which has been challenging for staff. All Boards have looked for compassionate solutions and most report that they are now able to deliver their usual bereavement care.
Anyone with an interest in bereavement care can download the 5 pathways and sign up for updates.