Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is inviting people to attend its annual baby and child loss remembrance service.
The service is held every December and aims to support bereaved families who are grieving the loss of their baby or child in the lead up to Christmas.
It will be led by the Trust’s spiritual care and chaplaincy manager, Rev Martin Abrams, with contributions from other members of the spiritual care team, bereavement and rainbow midwives, and the Trust’s leadership team.
During the service, there will be poignant performances from the Salvation Army and local musicians. Families will also be invited to place Christmas baubles with the name of their baby or child on a remembrance tree, which will later be moved to the remembrance garden at Ormskirk Hospital.
Those unable to attend the service, but who would like a Christmas bauble to be placed in their baby or child’s name, can contact the spiritual care and chaplaincy team by emailing soh-tr.chaplains@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk or calling 01704 704639 and they will arrange this on your behalf.
Rev Martin Abrams said: "This is always a very special service, and I know the supportive common empathy found there for bereaved parents is both helpful and special.
“Christmas can be such a difficult time when living with grief and many find the opportunity to come together in an empathetic environment very helpful.
“We would like to invite anyone who has had any loss and at any time to come along and hopefully find support.”
Jo Unsworth, the Trust’s Lead Bereavement Midwife, said: “The service is a time for parents and extended family to remember their baby or child in a caring, safe space.”
The service will take place on Wednesday 6th December at West Lancashire Crematorium in Burscough from 6.30pm with light refreshments served on arrival.
For more information, please contact Martin Abrams or Jan Fraser in the spiritual care and chaplaincy office, by emailing soh-tr.chaplains@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk or calling 01704 704639. You can also contact Jo Unsworth at joanne.unsworth2@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk or 01695 656786.
Photo caption: Jan Fraser and Martin Abrams