George Eliot Hospital Charity is asking for your support to raise funds for its ‘More Than a Room’ appeal to upgrade our maternity bereavement rooms at your local hospital.

George Eliot Hospital charity have launched their ‘More Than a Room’ fundraising appeal with a target of £28,000 which will be used to upgrade the hospital’s two maternity bereavement rooms, which are vital in helping parents deal with the loss of their children.

The charity is asking the local communities support by donating towards provide essential refurbishment for the two rooms at the heart of the campaign; ‘Harry’s Room’ and the maternity Bereavement Suite.

‘Harry’s Room’, used for communicating difficult or unexpected news, will become a significantly more comfortable environment for parents at this time, with a new floor and door, lowered ceiling, and new home-style furniture and facilities.

The Bereavement Suite, where parents are given the time and space to grieve, spend time with their babies and build lasting memories, will also be refurbished with new lighting, floors, doors, and furniture including a double bed, as well as being soundproofed and redecorated. The Bereavement Suite Garden will also be refreshed too with new patio furniture, a water feature and lighting.

Lead Bereavement Midwife, Samantha Collinge, said: “Sadly, baby loss in the UK is far more common than most people realise. Meaning that our bereavement suite is used regularly. However, it is in need of urgent refurbishment to give parents comfort at this distressing time.

“Having a private, home from home environment for grieving parents to spend precious time together with their babies will allow parents to create long lasting memories of their babies in a sensitive and appropriate environment.”

Nicky Rygielski, who is Treasurer and Co- Founder of Sophia – Pregnancy Loss Support, whose baby son, Ryan, was stillborn at George Eliot Hospital in 2011 said; “The room itself isn’t just a room, it’s the feel of it. It’s all people’s memories. It’s about hope.”

Joining Nicky in supporting the campaign are local parents, Ally and Steve Brown, who tragically lost their twins in October 2021. They explained how important the bereavement rooms were to them; “The bereavement suite was super helpful because we were self-contained, even though it was on the labour ward. It made us feel secure and comforted that we didn’t have to bump into the other families.

“It really did help, even with the circumstances. The hospital need the funds to refurbish that room to make it a little bit more homely, to make that terrible experience just that little bit more comfortable, easier, brighter. Knowing that you’re going to that room for one reason only, you need some sort of little comfort.”

Mark Bennett, Fundraising Manager at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, “We’re pleased to launch our More Than a Room fundraising appeal. We are encouraging our local community to get on board and support our appeal in order to help our local families. It’s easy to support the campaign – donate to us via JustGiving page/cheque/cash donation to our main reception, hold a fundraising event to raise event for us or spread the word by sharing our posts on social media. We also welcome corporate donors to get in contact with us too.”