The NBCP in Northern Ireland was launched by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt in October. Since then, the NBCP Steering Committee has been established. It is chaired by Sands and the Public Health Agency and consists of members including representatives from various partners including Royal Colleges, representatives of professional groups and baby loss charities.
The shared vision for the project is to create a set of five bereavement care pathways that are aligned with those currently in use in England and Scotland but that are Northern Ireland specific with the voices of local families at the core of each pathway.
Six Parent Listening events have been organised across Northern Ireland in January 2025 to ensure that the lived experiences of local bereaved parents are at the heart of pathway development. During these events staff from Sands and other baby loss charities will be on hand to listen to the lived experiences of local bereaved families. A parent advisory group will also be formed to advise on the pathways.
For further information about the NBCP in Northern Ireland, please contact bereavementcare@sands.org.uk.
