Families at Glan Clwyd Hospital benefit from new bereavement suite

A new suite to support families dealing with stillbirth and infant loss has opened at Glan Clwyd Hospital thanks to the generosity of a group of local families.

Fundraisers generated more than £30,000 with a 24-hour football marathon to improve facilities at the hospital and support stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands.

The new Dolwen Suite will provide significantly improved, private facilities for families who experience the loss of a baby. It has been designed to provide a more homely setting for mothers to give birth in, and make the time families spend in hospital with their infant as comfortable as possible.

The fundraiser was organised by Mike and Vicki Wilson, and Glyn and Karen Thomas. Vicki, Glyn and Karen all work together as radiographers at the North Wales Cancer Centre.

Mike, whose daughter Holly died at 35 weeks' gestation in 2012, said the group was determined to do something to support other families going through a similar experience.

A substantial donation to help furnish the suite was also made by Gwynedd Sands, which supports families in North Wales affected by the death of a baby.