AN ENTERPRISING nurse has created a way to help youngsters cope with grief.

Miriam Gilbert, end of life specialist nurse at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust (SaTH) has devised handmade bereavement bags filled with a teddy bear, colouring pens and paper alongside information on coping with loss.

There will even be a coloured memory stone inside for the child as a keepsake.

Creating the bags has been a real family affair for Miriam.

Her mother has made the bags, her father created the teddy bears – and even her own children have given ideas about what to include.

Miriam said: “The bags can be given to parents for their children so that they can open up conversations about bereavement and grief. They can also be given to a child whilst they are visiting their loved one in hospital to show them that hospitals are places that they are welcome to come in to.

“We have also included pens and notebooks, so they can be used to keep the child entertained during a hospital visit – and also so they can write down their feelings.”

She added that the bags will include coloured stones so that youngsters can keep them, write a special name on them and place them in their gardens.

“It means that when they go outside, they will see the stone and be able to sit and think about their loved one. We have also included a ‘Thoughtful Bear’ in the bag – so if a young child can’t talk about their grief, they can talk to the bear instead and tell them how they are feeling,” Miriam added.

Jules Lewis, end of life care facilitator at SaTH: “We are always thinking about how we can help our patients and their families. This is fantastic idea by Miriam, and we think it will really help to make a difference at what is the hardest of times for families, particularly children.”

If anyone would like to help Miriam sew bags, or make teddy bears, they can email: miriam.gilbert@nhs.net or call 01743 261 000 ext 346.