A chara, – One must welcome the recent announcement that it is planned to set up bereavement groups of staffs within each maternity hospital to respond appropriately to the needs of parents whose children die around birth ("Bereavement teams to be placed in all maternity hospitals", August 10th). It is salutary to realise that such groups do not already exist despite the work of parents groups advocating such a course of action over many years.
Our first-born baby girl died two days after she was born, her mother never getting to see her alive or dead. The only communication I received from the maternity hospital can be read below and indicates the journey that had still to be travelled:
“Dear Mr Jordan, I regret to inform you that your wife’s baby died/was stillborn on 23.7.’70. If you wish to make your own arrangements for burial, you should notify Matron’s Office as soon as possible. If you wish, the burial can be arranged for you by the hospital authorities by getting in touch with the medical social worker or with Matron’s Office without delay, otherwise the hospital authorities will find it necessary to proceed with arrangements. The charge is £2 and 15 shillings and should be paid to the accounts clerk between the hours of 9am and 4.30pm (12.30pm on Saturdays) or a postal order, may be sent to the Accounts Department. We would ask you to instruct us promptly in order to avoid undue distress. Yours truly, Lady Superintendent.” – Is mise,
TONY JORDAN,
Dublin 4.