Abstract

The death of a baby is devastating for parents, families and staff involved. Involving bereaved parents in their baby's care and in the maternity hospital review can help parents manage their bereavement and plan for the future. In Ireland, bereaved parents generally have not been involved in this review process. The aim of our study was to assess parents' perceptions of how they may be appropriately involved in the maternity hospital review, in ways that benefit them and the review process itself. Twenty bereaved parents in Ireland were interviewed for this study. The themes identified reflect the journey of the parents through the different stages of the review process. Open, honest communication with staff, as well as having a key hospital contact, was essential. Parents wished to provide feedback on their experience and wanted to be included in the review of their baby's death, in a way that was sensitive to their needs and the hospital's schedule. A respectful, flexible system that is tailored to parents’ needs is essential. A collaborative process between staff and parents can highlight clinical areas in need of change, enhance lessons learned, improve bereavement services, and may prevent future deaths.