Recognition for Perinatal and Gestational Grief Work Group
The Perinatal and Gestational Grief Work Group at the University Hospital Complex of the Canary Islands (HUC) has been awarded the Medal for Professional Merit by the Official College of Nurses of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This recognition honours the work of this multidisciplinary team in supporting families who experience loss during pregnancy, childbirth, or in the early days of a baby’s life.
In recent years, HUC has implemented various measures aimed at humanising support in these processes. These include the development of an updated clinical protocol, the creation of a specific farewell room, the provision of memory boxes, and the preparation of informational materials to better support families.
The College Governing Board awarded the distinction to the group for being, as stated in their notice, “a model of excellence” in healthcare centred on companionship, respect, and the enhancement of ethical and care standards in nursing and other health disciplines.
Medal Presented at Nursing Conference
The medal was presented during the closing ceremony of the XIV Conference on Innovations in Nursing and the XII Canary Islands Nursing Congress. The award was received by five nurses from the multidisciplinary team dealing with Humanisation of Perinatal Grief Support at the hospital complex.
The Official College of Nurses of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has previously highlighted the importance of creating suitable farewell spaces in cases of perinatal grief, a measure considered crucial for advancing the humanisation of care and acknowledging the suffering of families.
A Team Established Nearly Five Years Ago
The Perinatal and Gestational Grief Work Group at HUC began its work nearly five years ago, initiated alongside the Specific Unit for Perinatal Mental Health. Since then, it has integrated professionals from all services that interact with families in these situations.
Team members include professionals from Mental Health, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health nurses; Obstetrics and Delivery, including supervisors, midwives, and gynaecologists; Neonatal ICU, with supervisors, pediatric nurses, and neonatal pediatricians; as well as Pediatric Palliative Care professionals, including palliative pediatricians and specialist nurses.
The group also includes professionals from Pathology and Mortuary, alongside the Nursing Subdirection and the maternal-infant area.
Protocol, Farewell Room, and Memory Boxes
Among the initiatives undertaken by the group is the creation of an updated clinical protocol, which standardises procedures and enhances coordination across the hospital’s various services.
HUC has also designated a specific farewell room, designed to provide families with a more private and caring space. Additionally, memory boxes have been introduced, serving as a tool to help preserve meaningful items during a period of significant emotional strain.
Furthermore, the team has developed a variety of informational materials to enhance communication with families. These resources include a story to explain grief to children, aimed at helping siblings or other young family members to understand loss in an age-appropriate manner.
Training and Emotional Support for Professionals
The group’s work extends beyond direct support for families. It also encompasses the organisation of training for professionals to enhance the preparation of healthcare teams in dealing with gestational and perinatal grief situations.
Another initiative introduced is the Balint groups, providing emotional support spaces for healthcare workers. These groups allow professionals to share experiences, address the emotional impacts of care, and enhance the ways they support families.
In addition, HUC has developed a coordination pilot with Primary Care, an essential step in ensuring continuity of support after hospital discharge.
