Sending stillborn baby from NI to Liverpool ‘will haunt mum forever’

In 2019, an “interim” service was set up by the Department of Health for the post-mortem examinations to take place in Liverpool after a local paediatric pathologist could not be appointed.

A post-mortem examination can be carried out in the case of a miscarriage, stillbirth, or death of a baby or a child.

BBC News NI has also learned that these interim arrangements with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital have been extended until March 2027.

According to Victoria Buckley, it is “horrendous” and “heartbreaking” having to say “goodbye” twice to your baby, including the first time when the midwives tell you there is no heartbeat and later when the undertakers arrive to take the body to Liverpool.

The Department of Health said that while the health minister continues to make access to Alder Hey his priority, he is “committed to finding a better resolution to the issue”.

Victoria said a hospital porter arrived at the bereavement suite and left a bag with a white metal box inside, where they were asked to place Ollie.

“It will haunt me forever,” she said.

“Just this innocent little baby lying there. I had put him into a cold metal box to go to Liverpool, and I wasn’t sure when I was going to see him again.

“There is no timeline; you have to agree to that, and you just don’t know when you’re getting your baby back.”