Funeral Options
for your Small
Baby
12-24 weeks
Families Division
Patient Information Leaflet
Options available
If you’d like a large print, audio, Braille or a
translated version of this leaflet then please call:
01253 955588
Our Four Values:
People Centred
Positive
Compassion
Excellence
When a baby dies under 24 weeks
Option 1
The hospital can provide you with a
cremation service at Carleton Crematorium.
Staff on the ward or Delivery Suite will talk to
you about your funeral options. You will be
asked to complete a form which requests
Carleton Crematorium to cremate your small
baby and allows the hospital to make
arrangements on your behalf.
This type of service will take approximately
two weeks to arrange. Your baby will be put
into an individual sealed casket. If you would
like to put a memento in the casket, your
named carer or the hospital bereavement
office can arrange this for you. If you would
like, you will be given the date of the service.
You are welcome to visit the baby garden
and sit quietly in the crematorium to
reflect. The crematorium staff need to know
if you wish to enter the crematorium, as they
would like to meet you and escort you in.
The individual casket will then be taken to
the crematorium by the hospital's funeral
director and accompanied by one of the
hospital chaplains. Your baby will then be
cremated individually.
If you decide to visit the crematorium's
chapel, there will be no formal service and no
caskets to view. There will be reflective music
for you to listen to. There may be other
families in the crematorium with you. This
service will be of no cost to you.
Please understand that your baby is small and
it will be difficult to retrieve commemorative
remains for you at this time but, when
completing the form, if you have made it
known you would want commemorative
remains, the staff at the crematorium will do
their best to try and get you some. You will
be welcome to spend time in the Baby
Memorial Garden within the cemetery. You
also can have a plaque erected on the Baby
Wall of Remembrance; ask the crematorium
staff for information.
Option 2
When your baby has died before 24 weeks
gestation then, if you prefer, you could take
your baby home from hospital and make your
own arrangements for a very personalised
and individual type service. You are not
breaking any laws. For more information you
can find the guidelines on SANDS (Stillbirth
and Neonatal Death Charity) website www.uk-sands.org.
Option 3
Parents can arrange a private cremation or
burial co-ordinated by a funeral director of
your choice at one of the local cemeteries /
crematoriums. Your funeral director will be
able to give you more detailed information
about each service and any costs to you.
There are baby burial areas and crematoriums
throughout Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde. Each
area has their own rules and costs. The
undertaker you choose to carry out your
service will be able to give you accurate
information on your choice of location and
type of service.
Support
Staff are here to support you throughout this
difficult time and will try to answer your
questions with these options.
Support can also be given to you and your
partner by the Bereavement Support Nurse.
If you wish to speak with her, please ask staff
to contact her on your behalf and take the
Bereavement Support Leaflet home with you,
as you may wish to arrange support at a later
date following your discharge from hospital.
The Chaplaincy Team are also here to offer
you support at this difficult time. If you wish,
they can arrange a service for you, your
partner and close family members in the
hospital chapel. The chaplains can also
arrange a blessing for your baby. If you
would like this service and support, ask the
staff to arrange for you to meet with a
chaplain or you can also contact them from
home when you are discharged, where they
can arrange to meet with you to discuss your
wishes.
The loss of a baby can be a difficult physical
and emotional experience, and the services
discussed may offer you some comfort at this
difficult time.
Support services
S.A.N.D.S-Stillbirth and Neonatal Death
Charity Tel - 0207 436 5881
www.uk/sands.org.
Local - (Blackpool): 07938 977676
[email protected] SANDS
group meet in Stanley Park Sports Centre, the
first Wednesday every month at 7pm
The National Miscarriage Association Tel
01924 200799
Child Bereavement UK Tel 0800 028 8840
[email protected]
A.R.C.-Ante-natal, Results and Choices Tel0845 077 2290-www.arcuk.org.uk
HOSPITAL SUPPORT SERVICES
Bereavement Support Nurse (obstetrics)
01253 956877
Bereavement Support Nurse (Paediatrics)
01253 956713
Chaplaincy Team - 01253 956299
Bereavement Office - 01253 953723
Delivery Suite - 01253 953618
Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit - 01253
953731
Ward 15b - 01253 957273
Surgical assessment - 012153 953410
Useful contact details
Bereavement Support Nurse (Obstetrics)
01253 956877
Bereavement Support Nurse (Paediatrics)
01253 956713
Hospital Switchboard: 01253 300000
Patient Relations Department
The Patient Relations Department offer impartial
advice and deal with any concerns or complaints
the Trust receives. You can contact them via:
Tel: 01253 955589
email: [email protected]
You can also write to us at:
Patient Relations Department, Blackpool Victoria
Hospital, Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool FY3 8NR
Further information is available on our website:
www.bfwh.nhs.uk
References
This leaflet is evidence based wherever
the appropriate evidence is available, and
represents an accumulation of expert opinion
and professional interpretation.
Details of the references used in writing this
leaflet are available on request from:
Policy Co-ordinator/Archivist 01253 953397
Approved by:
Date of Publication:
Reference No:
Author:
Review Date:
Clinical Improvement (CA)
22/09/2015
PL/968 (v1)
Megan Murray
01/09/2018