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New HSE e-learning programme to support all maternity staff in the provision of compassionate care for people who experience pregnancy and infant loss
The Health Service Executive’s National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) has launched a new e-learning programme to support staff across all maternity services in the delivery of compassionate, evidence-informed and person-centred care for people experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. 'Supporting people experiencing pregnancy and infant loss' is available via www.hseland.ie.
This new e-learning programme, underpinned by the National Standards for Bereavement Care Following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death, specifically aims to support all staff in:
- Providing sensitive and meaningful support
- Demonstrating effective and compassionate communication, using appropriate and supportive language
- Guiding people to relevant resources and supports
- Accessing support when they themselves need it.
The National Standards, launched in 2016 and updated in 2022, aim to enhance bereavement care services for people who experience pregnancy loss or perinatal death. One of the four pillars of the Standards relates to staff, namely education and training, and support. It aims to ensure that all hospital staff have access to education and training opportunities in the delivery of compassionate bereavement and end-of-life care. Such programmes must be delivered at an appropriate level for all staff relevant to their roles and responsibilities following the “All, Some, Few” framework, as outlined in the Perinatal Bereavement Education Standards. This means that all clinical and non-clinical staff need basic training, some staff – such as midwives/nurses and doctors – require more advanced training, and a few staff – those whose core activity is bereavement care – require more specialist training. The new e-learning programme fits within the ALL level of this framework.
Findings from national research and care experience surveys – including the National Maternity Bereavement Experience Survey 2022 and the RE:CURRENT project, amongst others – underline the importance of training, from the perspectives of both people with lived experience and maternity staff. In addition, a mapping study of perinatal bereavement education and training activities within the 19 maternity hospitals/units conducted by the Pregnancy Loss Research Group found a lack of standardisation in provision. Enhancing the uptake of programmes amongst different types of staff was highlighted as a key opportunity. The need for online and/or shorter programmes to engage particular staff was identified, aligning with the “All, Some, Few” framework, enabling maternity hospitals/units to offer programmes at an appropriate level for all staff relevant to their roles.
Development of the e-learning programme was led by NWIHP through the leadership of Rióna Cotter (Assistant Director of Midwifery) and Professor Keelin O’Donoghue (National Implementation Lead, National Standards for Bereavement Care Following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death), supported by a sub-group of the Advisory Group for the National Standards. The latter comprised experts by experience, midwives, an obstetrician, an educator and a researcher, some of whom are members of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group.
The e-learning programme was launched at an event held in the Dr Dora Allman Room, University College Cork on 21 September 2026.
Photo gallery
Members of the HSeLanD e-learning programme development group, L-R: Gráinne McSteen (Clinical Midwife Specialist Early Pregnancy Loss, Sligo University Hospital), Helen Byrnes (Clinical Midwife Manager 2 Bereavement and Loss, University Hospital Galway), Professor Keelin O’Donoghue (National Implementation Lead, National Standards for Bereavement Care Following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death, NWIHP; Lead, Pregnancy Loss Research Group), Rióna Cotter (Assistant Director of Midwifery, NWIHP), Marita Hennessy (Researcher, PLRG), Jenny Jacobs (Expert by experience) and Jennie Cronin (Expert by experience, PLRG). Photo credit: Portia Cruz. Missing from photo: Dr Barbara Coughlan.
L-R: Gráinne Mc Steen (Clinical Midwife Specialist Early Pregnancy Loss, Sligo University Hospital), Caroline O’Connor (Clinical Midwife Manager 2 (CMM2) Bereavement and Loss, Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH)), Brenda Casey (Clinical Midwife Specialist Bereavement and Loss, National Maternity Hospital), Niamh Howard-Jones (Candidate Advanced Midwife Practitioner Early Pregnancy Loss / Miscarriage Services, CUMH), Róisín O’Connor (CMM2 Bereavement and Loss, CUMH), Carrie Dillon (Clinical Midwife Specialist Bereavement and Loss, University Hospital Kerry), Helen Byrnes (CMM2 Bereavement and Loss, University Hospital Galway). Photo credit: Portia Cruz.
Attendees at the HSeLanD programme launch, held in the Dr Dora Allman Room, UCC. Photo credit: Portia Cruz.