The heartache of cot death

Parents say cot death support is inadequate

Parents of cot death victims are calling for improvements to the care and support network for bereaved families.

They want a more co-ordinated approach to ensure systems are put in place to maintain a consistent level of provision.

BBC News Online hears some of their experiences.

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Jill's baby, Duncan, died in 1982, aged 18 months.

Jill, from East Sussex said: "I found out how little is done during a general post-mortem examination.

If I won the lottery I would create a national centre for excellence in paediatric pathology for all babies

Jill

"If I won the lottery I would create a national centre for excellence in paediatric pathology for all babies."

Lesley from Lancashire, had a baby Jessica, who suffered a cot death in 1989.

"There were some aspects that were dealt with sensitively and very well after Jessica died.

'Ignored' by professionals

"My GP was very good - he stayed with me for hours and did not rush me at all.

"In other ways I felt ignored by the professionals.

"No paediatrician ever contacted us, even though my husband is a GP and knew them all.

"No-one ever explained the results of Jessica's post mortem to me."

Susan's baby Edward was a cot death victim in 1999.

Susan, from Kent, said: "No-one like my health visitor or GP visited me.

"No-one asked how I was doing.

"I started to fall into depression.

"Less than five months after Edward's death my doctor told me to 'pull myself together and get over it'."

Better training

Suzanne from Warwickshire had a baby called Daryl die in 1990.

She said: "The coroner's office telephoned us the next day.

"He said the post mortem had been carried out and they weren't able to find any reason why Daryl died and therefore it was Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

We really need to see better training to ensure that parents aren't seen in a suspicious light straight off

Suzanne

"The next thing I knew was a police woman knocking at the door.

"She was awful, really insensitive.

"She separated me and my husband and started questioning me.

"We really need to see better training to ensure that parents aren't seen in a suspicious light straight off.

"Professionals need to be sensitive and have all possible information available to them so really damaging mix-ups never happen."

A telephone support service is available, staffed by trained volunteers, to help bereaved parents, who have experienced cot death. The Child Death Helpline 0800 282986