SIR: I refer to your 'Letter of the Week' March 29 from Mr and Mrs McCoy.

The Remembrance Service for Babies mentioned in your 'Letter of the Week' is jointly organised by the Chaplaincy Department and the Maternity Unit of Bolton Hospitals Trust. We were very glad to hear that Mr and Mrs McCoy found it a comfort even though their loss was some time ago.

The service has been a regular part of the hospital calendar for approximately five years, usually being held on the Sunday following Mothering Sunday, and will continue for as long as people find it of help.

The oldest person whom I know attended was a 76-year-old lady who had lost a baby in her early 20s. In her day things were a lot different from today. Stillborn babies and neonatal deaths were not talked about, and mothers often did not know what happened to the baby's body.

Today this service is only one of many things that are provided by the Maternity Unit for those who have such a tragic loss. There is also the realisation that these tragedies affect not only the prospective parents, but also the grandparents, family and friends in almost as bad a way.

The Chaplaincy and Maternity Unit is glad to have been of help.

Revd Neil K Gray

Co-ordinator of Spiritual and Cultural Care

Miss Jean Bracken

Head of Midwifery and Nursing

Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust

Royal Bolton Hospital

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.