MLA '˜moved' by meeting with baby charity

An Upper Bann MLA has called for improved bereavement care for those affected by the death of a baby following a meeting with local co-ordinator Steven Guy.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Jul 2016, 07:09 BST
Jo-Anne Dobson and Steven Guy with a Memory Box, one of 300 produced every year in the Portadown office. INPT28-001Jo-Anne Dobson and Steven Guy with a Memory Box, one of 300 produced every year in the Portadown office. INPT28-001
Jo-Anne Dobson and Steven Guy with a Memory Box, one of 300 produced every year in the Portadown office. INPT28-001

Steven is the Northern Ireland co-ordinator of SANDS, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity - and became involved with the organisation after his daughter Danielle was stillborn.

Jo-Anne Dobson MLA said, “It was a very emotional experience to meet with Steven who through his own personal tragedy is helping countless families.

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“Steven showed me one of the 300 Memory Boxes which are lovingly put together every year by volunteers at the SANDS office in Portadown.

Families can record those precious brief moments with a child born sleeping and they often become their most treasured possession.”

And she has tabled a motion for debate at the Assembly calling on the Health Minister to recognise the work of Sands in conducting research to reduce the occurrence of deaths during and shortly after birth.

Sands meets on the last Tuesday of every month at 8pm in Eden SEC, Portadown.

Related topics:Northern IrelandPortadownHealth Minister