£1m centre for grieving parents opens
A NEW £1 million bereavement centre has been opened at Birmingham Children’s Hospital to help parents struggling with their loss.
Magnolia House is the first centre of its kind in the country and has been funded entirely by donations.
Hundreds of families receive life-changing news every year but up until now that has often taken place in offices, cubicles or even playrooms – with parents then moved back out onto the ward before they have time to digest what they are being told.
Now Magnolia House offers a sanctuary which gives families a space where they can spend as long as they need.
Fundraising was spearheaded by Birmingham-based financial services firm Wesleyan which raised £750,000 of the £1 million via more than 200 fundraising activities, including the publication of a children’s book called
The final £250,000 was raised through public donations.
Nicki Fitzmaurice, palliative care lead at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, said: “The families we care for have wanted a space like Magnolia House for such a long time and thanks to hundreds of charitable donations we are delighted to now be able to offer an environment that gives parents a chance to process life-changing news, ensuring they are able to focus on being emotionally available to their child.
“Feedback from families was clear.
“It needed to be unlike any other area in the hospital, not smell or sound like a busy ward and have lots of natural light so they didn’t feel like they were enclosed.
“We’re proud to have created a setting that honours them.”
Magnolia House has two private counselling rooms, a lounge, kitchen, dining area, a garden and a siblings play area.
Liz McKenzie, Wesleyan’s chief operating officer, added: “We have supported Birmingham Children’s Hospital for the past four years and our legacy of creating Magnolia House is something we are very proud of. We hope it will help families when they need it most.
“The way our staff, customers and suppliers have thrown their energy, time and creativity behind this project and embraced the life-changing work the hospital does for children and their families, has been extraordinary.”