Written question WQ96922

The National Framework for the Delivery of Bereavement Care was published in 2021 and sets out the Welsh Government’s vision for a compassionate Wales, where everyone has equitable access to high-quality bereavement care and support to meet their needs.

A huge amount of work has been undertaken to improve care and support for parents, and all those who are facing, or have experienced, the loss of a loved one. This includes the development and establishment of core principles, minimum standards and actions to support regional and local planning.

Work is ongoing to implement a national bereavement pathway for Wales, providing information and guidance to health boards and bereavement support providers to promote a consistent approach for accessing bereavement support across Wales.

The overarching model specification, the sudden and unexpected death in children and young people bereavement pathway and responding to people bereaved, exposed, or affected by suicide have all been published. A pathway specifically aimed at supporting children and young people is due to be published shortly.

The Maternity and Neonatal Network, part of NHS Wales Performance and Improvement, has been working with SANDS, the pregnancy and baby loss charity, to support work on the five bereavement pathways. Work has focused on miscarriage, termination of pregnancy for foetal anomaly, stillbirth, neonatal death and sudden unexpected death in infancy. The pathways are due to be published in the autumn.