SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE APR. (Press Europa) –
The Plenary of the Parliament of the Canary Islands has unanimously endorsed a non-legislative proposition (NLP) from the popular parliamentary group, urging the Ministry of Health to establish perinatal bereavement rooms in those hospitals across the islands where they are currently lacking.
The spokesperson for Health from the Popular Party, Rebeca Paniagua, emphasised in a statement that “Canarian healthcare must persist in delivering a holistic and compassionate response to families enduring this distressing situation.”
Paniagua reiterated that perinatal loss is a “profoundly distressing” ordeal for families who confront the heartache of losing a child during pregnancy or shortly after birth, necessitating thoughtful and sensitive care from healthcare providers.
“The establishment of a farewell room in hospitals signifies a notable advancement in supporting families through the grieving process, furnishing them with a space to bid farewell in a comforting and suitable environment for their emotional needs,” added the deputy of the PP.
She expressed that “experts and healthcare professionals themselves recognise that farewell rooms in hospitals have a profoundly positive emotional impact on families facing the painful loss of a baby, providing numerous emotional advantages by creating a nurturing space to process grief and say goodbye in an intimate and respectful manner.”
In her view, losing a child is among the “most devastating experiences one can endure”, and often, this anguish is not appropriately acknowledged. Therefore, “having a farewell room is a clear means of recognising this loss and providing parents with an environment where their grief is treated with the seriousness and respect it merits.”
Furthermore, she mentioned that the creation of such spaces markedly enhances the overall experience of patients in hospitals, as healthcare often centres on physical and medical aspects, overlooking the emotional necessities of individuals.
Nonetheless, she pointed out that “in instances of perinatal mourning, these emotional requirements are just as crucial as physical ones.”
The University Hospital of the Canary Islands (HUC) in Tenerife has featured this ‘farewell room’ since March 2023, providing a space of privacy and compassionate care that caters to an identified need by families and professionals and is part of the multidisciplinary initiative focused on the humanisation of perinatal grief within the hospital.
Additionally, the José Molina Orosa Hospital in Lanzarote has recently introduced a ‘cradle of hugs’ aimed at humanising perinatal mourning.
