Sadly friends of ours little boy Leo hoenix was born at the John Radcliffe Hospital on the 17th Jan 2016, sleeping, at 37 weeks gestation. The care and facilities available to them at the John Radcliffe enabled them to be fully supported and to spend time with him, as a family, before saying goodbye.   The money we aim to raise will go towards helping the fun support families at such a difficult time. 

The Ashfield fund is used to purchase equipment specific to supporting bereaved families, such as cold cots, photography equipment, materials to provide hand and foot casts and prints. Without this fund the care and support they recvieved would not have been possible. 

Below are further details so you can know and understandwhere your generous donations  go and how it can help.

From the hospital: " The Ashfield Fund also ensures the bereavement suites are kept maintained by purchasing new soft furnishings and items to enhance the environment, such as pictures, accessories for the rooms, tea, coffee making facilities, fridge’s, televisions, etc.
We have recently improved the lighting in the Ashfield suite, replaced the ceiling and entrance doors and decorated. We are in the process of purchasing a new adjustable double bed and plan to modernise the bathroom next.

We are aiming to replace the sofa in the Lambert suite soon and redecorate, having just bought new curtains and duvet covers.

Our biggest project planned is to improve facilities on delivery suite for those women who need to be cared for in that area.

The fund is also invaluable to supporting staff training in bereavement , in areas such as bereavement photography, counselling and general caring for a bereaved family following their loss.

Our expenditure varies according to how much we have in the account. We have been fortunate to receive regular donations over the last couple of years so have been able to spend more on maintaining and enhancing the service.

Some examples would be;

£800 for a photography study day for a group of staff
£90 for a supply of materials for providing hand and foot casts over a period of about 2 months
£120 to send one person on a bereavement study day

I estimate the cost of new soft furnishing for the Lambert suite to be in the region of £2000

We have yet to get a quote for improving the bathroom in the Ashfield suite, but could be in the region of £3000

We are also in the process of obtaining a quote for some major work on the delivery suite room, we have been advised this could be in the region of £40,000, some of which we hope will be funded by a grant, but we will need to use the Ashfield fund to furnish this room to create a homely feel"