Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1             This purpose of this report is to outline a request which has been brought to Council by the Snowdrop Group – a service user service improved focussed group of BHSCT.  In the absence of a broader memorialisation policy and accompanying framework (proposed for development) – this request is therefore being presented to committee/council for discussion and approval.

2.0       Recommendations

            The Members of the Committee are asked to recommend that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to:

·        Note the content of the report – and specifically the request noted in 3.7 from the BHSCT Snowdrop Group to request that Council supports them to establish a small Snowdrop Garden area within one of our parks.

·        Give permission for Officers to continue to work with the Trust and the Group to identify and agree a suitable location, and to then work towards organising a small scale event/planting ceremony towards the end of May/early June (taking account of NI Exec restrictions in place at the time).

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Around 60,000 babies are born prematurely each year in the UK. In the UK, it is estimated that 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss during pregnancy or birth.

3.2       The Snowdrop Group was established in 2017 and is a service user group within BHSCT.  The group provides a means of working in partnership with bereaved parents to inform and drive improvements in Maternity services within the Trust.  The group has representatives from all parts of Belfast and from all religious backgrounds and none. [The terms of reference for the group are included in Appendix 1.]

3.3       United by their shared experience of the devastating loss of their precious babies, the parents are passionate about working with staff, to ensure those who travel the same path in the future, receive the most compassionate care and support possible. The group strives to improve care for all those who experience baby loss at any stage of pregnancy or shortly after birth, informed by the experience and understanding of what really matters most at such an unimaginable time.

3.4       Since its inception, the group has contributed to a number of important and tangible improvements. These have included:

·        Advocating for and contributing to, the refurbishment of Room 9 and the quiet room within the RJMH-Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital (Room 9 is the delivery room used in circumstances where the baby will, or has already, passed away).

·        Completion of artwork in conjunction with Artscare to be displayed in ‘Room 9’, linking the journeys of parents who give birth to their babies there, to those who have walked the path before them.

·        The development of a handmade sympathy card which is now distributed to all parents who experience the loss of their baby, providing contact details for the Bereavement Midwife in the RVH.

·        Informing work carried out in the area immediately outside the alternative exit from the Maternity Unit. 

·        Facilitated a recruitment/involvement event to encourage other service users to come forward with their experiences and perspective on how services could be improved.

·        Work to improve the environment and information available within the Early Pregnancy Unit.

·        Facilitating the Aching Arms and Cradle charities to deliver within RJMH.

3.5       The group have also focused on raising awareness and breaking stigma associated with pregnancy and baby loss, and are very active during Baby Loss Awareness Week (held annually 9th -15th October).  The last two years they have been involved in a social media campaign were individuals shared their stories by video in order to help break the silence around this issue.

3.6       The Snowdrop has now become a symbol for baby loss awareness within Belfast Trust and beyond and is also a symbol of hope for many families. The group are keen to develop a Snowdrop walk each year and would like to try and establish a Snowdrop Garden – somewhere families can go to reflect and remember their babies.

3.7       They have approached council officers to enquire if it would be possible to have a dedicated area in a park in Belfast, where snowdrops could be planted and a small sign placed (wording to be agreed with BCC).  They have no preference in terms of location apart from a request that the site would be able to accommodate being a starting and end point for an annual ‘Snowdrop Walk’ – therefore some of our larger parks/open spaces might be more appropriate.

3.8       It would then be the group’s intention to promote this place/space amongst their network and to hold events there periodically throughout the year (these would be considered via the normal BCC Outdoor Leisure application and approval process).

3.9       They also intend to fundraise in-year in order to be able to purchase a memorial bench (through Council’s memorialisation process) for installation at the chosen site.

            Financial & Resource Implications

3.10      Initial resources associated with sourcing and planting snowdrops, alongside ongoing maintenance of the flower beds, would be met by Council via the existing OSS budget for whichever park is identified as being most appropriate for hosting.  Going forward, the BHSCT Snowdrop group will be responsible for covering the costs of any future planned events, supplying a small sign to be placed within the flower beds and of sourcing funding to purchase and install a memorial bench (through Council’s normal memorialisation process) to be sited close to the site. 

            Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

3.11      There are no Equality or Good Relations Implications and no Rural Needs Assessment required for the recommendations outlined above.”

            The Members of the Committee recommended that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to:

·        note the content of the report – and specifically the request noted in 3.7 from the BHSCT Snowdrop Group to request that Council supports them to establish a small Snowdrop Garden area within one of the parks; and 

·        grant permission for officers to continue to work with the Trust and the Group to identify and agree a suitable location, and to work towards organising a small scale event/planting ceremony at the end of May/early June (taking account of NI Exec restrictions in place at the time).