Support service will be run by charity in children's hospital

Families facing child bereavement will benefit from a new support service run by a charity at a children’s hospital.

The charity Child Bereavement UK will provide the service under contract from the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

Staff will receive training and support from the scheme, which will cost £110,000 a year to operate.

It will offer both long and short-term support to families.

Chief executive of Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, Shona Cardle, said: "For parents, the death of a child is simply unimaginable. Sadly, it becomes a reality for families every week at the hospital, and it is crucial that structured support is available for them at such a difficult time."

Michael Angus, who lost his six-year-old son Christopher in 2014 from heart failure, praised the move.

"If I had to invent a perfect son I would have invented Christopher. He was beyond my imagination, he was a beautiful child," he said.

"You're in desperate need of support as a bereaved parent. It would have been invaluable to have this service when we lost Christopher," he said.

Emotional support will also be offered to staff members who are affected by the death of a young patient.

Kevin Hill, director of women and children’s services within NHSGGC, said: “The death of a child is something which is unthinkable and has a significant impact on any family facing it.

“This new service has been developed to give the best support we can to parents and families in these saddest of circumstances. It will also equip our staff to deal with this in a caring and professional way.”