A PENRITH paramedic is leading an initiative to provide families whose babies who are born at pre-term and too early for resuscitation some dignity when travelling to hospital.

Susie Rhind believes the initiative will ensure that bereaved families and their children are treated with compassion.

There will around 250 snuggle pods distributed in North West Ambulance Service vehicles in Cumbria, a quarter of the total number throughout the whole of the North-West.

The knitted pockets are designed to hold babies on transportation to hospital, and each pack contains two knitted hearts – one for the family to keep and one to stay with the baby.

The initiative has been financed by a donation from the Blue Light Babies Charity, which has provided the funds for the project.

The initiative has been supported by consultant midwife Dr Stephanie Heys, who said: “Snuggle pods is such a meaningful initiative providing families during bereavement with a personal keepsake. They will undoubtedly support staff in providing compassionate and individualised care when attending babies who sadly do not survive following birth.”

The scheme hopes to provide some comfort to people in some of their most difficult times, ensuring dignity throughout their experience at the toughest times.