You are not alone. That’s the poignant message from The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) as our teams unite with families and communities across the world to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week (9-15 October).
Throughout this nationally celebrated week, which is a time for people to remember much-loved and missed babies as well as raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss, The QEH is encouraging people to tie a ribbon in the Butterfly Garden as a sign of remembrance.
People can bring their own ribbon, or they will be available from The QEH main reception desk or contact the Maternity Team through Facebook and they can tie a ribbon for you. The ribbons will remain in situ for the whole week as a mark of respect and sign of unity.
On Sunday 12 October, the hospital is holding The 2025 SANDS Baby-Loss Memorial Service which is being held in the Sacred Space from 3pm. This service is for anyone to attend, the theme of the service is Stars and it is a service of remembrance using music and poetry, names of the baby’s will be read out during the service and it is a great way of recognising that going through such a traumatic event can feel lonely, but hopefully the service will allow people to recognise they are not alone.
After the service there will be an opportunity to look around the butterfly garden. The Butterfly Garden, fully funded by the hospital’s own QEHKL Charity, has been thoughtfully designed to offer a peaceful environment where families, staff, and visitors can find solace and connection. It features hand-forged butterfly sculptures with some bearing the names of babies lovingly remembered by their families. This space will serve as a poignant reminder of the brief yet impactful lives that have touched many hearts.
On Wednesday 15 October, as part of a Wave of Light which take place every year, the Trust’s Arthur Levin Day Surgery Unit will light up at 7pm in distinctive blue and pink colours. This is also your opportunity to light candles and leave them burning from 7pm. The symbolic gesture aims to raise awareness and open a space for conversations around baby loss.
To find out more about Baby Loss Awareness Week and the support available, visit babyloss-awareness.org.
Ends. Notes to editors; For media enquiries only, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216. For all other enquiries, please contact QEH Switchboard on 01553 613613.
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