Held in Our Hearts, Hospital to Home (H2H) is an innovative project specifically focusing on early intervention for pregnancy, baby and infant loss. This bespoke service for families, aims to support the transition from the hospital to home; helping to ensure that no family falls through the gap and goes without bereavement support when they return home.
Following on from the initial three-year funded pilot within NHS Lothian, and now thanks to additional funding received, and partnership agreements with new Heath Boards, we are delighted to expand this service for families within NHS Fife, NHS Forth Valley and NHS Highland.
This stepped model of care offers bespoke, short term, practical and emotional support to bereaved families after the devastating loss of their baby. This ‘opt-out’ service also removes the burden from families to get in touch, at a time when they are heart broken and vulnerable, to ensure that every family is given equitable opportunity for support. Through bridging the gap in the transfer of bereaved families between hospital and home, this support allows the H2H worker to reach in so families do not have to reach out for support after discharge.
Support can include assistance with planning funeral/memorial arrangements, help to prepare for and attend follow up hospital appointments, provision of information on grief to family, extended family and friends, advice and support to families around returning to work, help to talk to siblings and the provision of books for home and school.
This service is eligible for any family who have experienced a loss after 12 weeks. Families are offered between 6-8 sessions in their home, with our H2H Workers. Thereafter, they can be referred onwards to our longer-term Peer Support or Counselling Service, as appropriate.
Referrals for Hospital to Home service can be received anytime within the first three weeks after loss and from any professional working with the family within the following Health Boards:
NHS Lothian
NHS Forth Valley
NHS Fife
NHS Highland
Health professionals making a referral for Hospital to Home can do so through your local badgernet system or directly to: referrals@heldinourhearts.org.uk
NB: NHS Lothian referrals – accepted for families experiencing loss between 12 – 24 weeks only. Please refer via: loth.heldinourhearts@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
