Newsletter December 2009
Welcome to the December edition of our quarterly newsletter.Support Group Meetings
Due to problems with the new venue, Kirkcaldy meetings will continue to be held in the parentcraft room within Forth Park Hospital until further notice. Dunfermline meetings will be held in Seal House, Halbeath Road (Next to Iceland/Aldi's car park).
Next Pregnancy Support Group
If you would like support during a subsequent pregnancy, the date of the next meeting is 12th January. Please contact us for more details if you would like to attend.
Mailing List updates
We are currently in the process of updating our mailing list. If we have your email address, we have already contacted you – please ensure you respond to ensure we don't delete you from the database. If you receive your newsletter by post, you should find your update form enclosed.
Telephone
We hope to introduce a new telephone system in the New Year to make it easier for people to get hold of a befriender. The new number will be on the answer machine at the office as soon as the system is up and running.
Training
Congratulations to Debbie and Jenny who recently undertook befriender training. Debbie will be supporting Christine with the Next Pregnancy group meetings, while Jenny will be helping out at the monthly support group meetings.
We are delighted to announce that Christine graduated in November with an Msc in Bereavement Counselling – well done Christine, we are so proud of you and your fantastic achievement.
New Arrivals
Many congratulations to:
Nichola and David on the birth of Derryn on 1st October. A beautiful baby sister to Alexander and the late Callan.
Kirsty and Steven on the birth of Pheobe, also on 1st October. A beautiful baby sister to Natalie, Stephanie and the late Nairn.
Lara and Steven on the early but safe arrival of Mia and Oliver on 26th November. A brother and sister to Luke and the late Erin.
Christmas family Service
The Christmas service will be held on 13th December at 2pm in the Education Centre at Queen Margaret Hospital. All are welcome – please bring a bauble to hang on the tree in memory of your baby, and join us afterwards for light refreshments.
Lights of Love
Just a reminder that Forth Valley Sands will be hosting the first Scottish Lights of Love Service on Friday 11th December at 7.30pm in St Mary's Church in the centre of Stirling. The event is open to all, and if you are interested in attending, please contact us so that we can let Forth Valley know.
Scottish Network Day 2010
We will be hosting the fourth annual Network Day on 15th May next year. The day is open to anybody interested in learning more about the work of sands, or those who would like to become more involved. Groups from across Scotland will be attending and we have a number of ideas for speakers who we would like to invite. Further updates as we confirm details. The event will be held at East End Park in Dunfermline.
Baby Gardens
We have had a further meeting with Bereavement Services regarding Dunfermline Cemetery. We are now awaiting confirmation of the plans and costs involved before work can begin. The area has also had a clean up – all salvageable items have been placed in the care of the cemetery staff for collection if desired.
Why 17? Scottish Parliament Launch
Wednesday, 18th November, saw the high profile launch of the Saving Babies’ Lives Report, 2009 to MSPs at the Scottish Parliament. Several problem areas in Scotland were highlighted that are contributing to the deaths of babies in Scotland and sands called on the Scottish Government to ensure that stillbirths and neonatal deaths are recognised as a major health issue in Scotland and addressed as a matter of urgency and priority.
The reception at the Scottish Parliament was hosted by Ken Macintosh MSP, and guests included scientists, researchers, members of professional organizations, health professionals and Sands parents from across Scotland attended the reception.
Fife Sands was represented by Jo-Anna, Christine, Clare, Teresa and Susan.
Jo-Anna on the Walk Jo-Anna with John Park MSP Photo of Scottish Sands Group members
Susan, Teresa and I all went to the Scottish parliament launch of WHY17 campaign as guests of Marilyn Livingstone our MSP. Prior to the launch we met for a chat, I must say Marilyn seemed very approachable and keen to prove her ability to us. We discussed both national WHY17? issues and local Fife issues and came to the decision that Marilyn could serve us best on a local level.
We expressed our concerns to Marilyn regarding the new hospital accommodation and office provision alongside many other issues and decided we needed to focus on a few pressing issues.
I have since been in touch with Marilyn's assistant Lauren and said that we would like her to work with us on the following issues
1. A specific bereavement room (as a replacement to butterfly room)
2. An office space (not necessarily in the new hospital - but somewhere we can function in a similar or better way than we do at present)
3. A bereavement midwife and counsellor initially, eventually building into a team of bereavement midwives who would act as advocates for bereaved parents - thus ensuring continuity of care and support during and after the birth. We will then know that all parents are receiving the same advice (based on the experiences of parents who have lost – ultimately we know what is best).
I have since then received a letter from Marilyn in which she detailed what she has done so far on our behalf -
"I have written to Jim Goldfrick, Chair of NHS Fife Board, and asked him to look into the matters you have raised and to outline any action NHS Fife will take. I have also asked him for a meeting with the committee members of Fife Sands, a representative from Forth Park and myself. I will contact you again in receipt of a reply."
Marilyn has also kindly offered to help raise funds for us, and offered bottles of whisky signed by our very own PM!
We are hoping this is the beginning of a fruitful relationship!
Clare