A new bereavement suite for parents who have experienced baby loss was officially opened on Tuesday 23 January 2024 at King’s College Hospital by Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP.
Based in the maternity unit at King’s, the Peace Bereavement Suite is the department’s first dedicated space offering comfort and privacy for bereaved families who wish to spend time with their babies in an environment that is close to the medical team.
We wanted to provide a compassionate and caring environment for families going through a heart-breaking experience
The Suite is named after Peace, a devoted King’s midwife who sadly passed away in 2015 after a cancer diagnosis.
Tracey Carter, Chief Nurse and Executive Director of Midwifery at King’s, said: “This project has meant a lot to all of us, particularly colleagues who worked alongside Peace. We wanted to provide a compassionate and caring environment for families going through a heart-breaking experience, allowing them to process their loss with privacy, empathy and specialised support.”
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP added: “I’d like to thank the King’s midwives and everyone who has worked so hard to make sure families experiencing baby loss can benefit from this space. I hope it will provide a sanctuary for those who are sadly in the first stages of the grieving process. It has been a privilege to meet with Peace’s family today and hear about her life. I am so happy we can honour her memory in this way.”
Melvin, Peace’s widower, said: “Peace did so much to care for families and babies in her role as a midwife at King’s, and it is an honour to have her name remembered in this way by the Trust. She was an incredible person and we will always miss her, but her legacy will continue.”