A TEAM of midwives from Basildon Hospital have won a prestigious Royal College of Midwives award for their excellence in bereavement care.

The team of three based at Basildon Hospital, known as the Lullaby Team, were given the award at an event in London in front of their peers.

Attending the event were the bereavement specialist midwives, Sian Ness, Beth Towsey and Debbie Olajugbagbe.

It's their job to make sure that every family who experience the death of their baby feels surrounded by comfort, compassion and support through their journey.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Sian said: "It's amazing to have won this award, but the real reward for us is the feedback we have received regarding our care from bereaved families, support groups and charities and seeing the difference the team has made to people at a hugely difficult time."

That care includes making sure each family have their own bereavement specialist midwife who helps families with any funeral arrangements for their baby and continual support after their funeral with home visits.

Earlier in the Thurrock Nub News reported on an upgrade at the hospital's Forget Me Not Bereavement suite.