Campaign born from loss at Burnley’s maternity centre
A bereaved young mother from Burnley has launched a fundraising appeal for a specialist “privacy pram” at the Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre, part of Burnley General Hospital, following the death of her newborn son. The pram is intended to give families experiencing baby loss dignity when they must move through public areas of the hospital.
Maddie Laidlaw and her partner, Reece Burton, welcomed their son, Thomas Christopher Burton, on 6 January. Thomas was born at 32 weeks and, despite surviving for a brief time, he died shortly after birth. The couple had been told during pregnancy that their baby faced severe brain abnormalities and might not live.
“We knew from 16 weeks into the pregnancy about Thomas’ condition but we wanted to give him the best chance possible at life,” Maddie said. “He only lived for minutes but he opened his eyes to see daylight and he cried too.”
In the days that followed, the family — including Thomas’s siblings Leo (7), Nia (7) and Oliver (2) — were able to spend time with him in a cold cot at the centre. Maddie praised the care provided by staff, highlighting the compassion shown to them and to their son at an intensely difficult time.
“We received the most fantastic care by everyone at the centre and, more importantly, the care they gave to Thomas was amazing… I cannot fault the staff or the care given to us and we will always be grateful to them.”
Why a ‘privacy pram’ is needed
Maddie’s appeal is focused on one moment that she describes as needlessly distressing: the journey from the birth suite to the hospital exit when Thomas was transferred to the funeral directors. The family had to pass through corridors and the main entrance, where other patients, including expectant parents and those with newborns, were present.
She recalls initially carrying Thomas to the on-site chapel of rest, shielding him with a cardigan. Later, the transfer required walking with his Moses basket in view of others. The experience, she says, compounded their grief and has prompted the campaign to equip the centre with a discreet pram designed to shield babies and families from public view at such moments.
- Privacy: screens the baby from public areas during transfers within the hospital;
- Dignity: reduces distress for families who are already grieving;
- Sensitivity: minimises accidental exposure to triggering situations for other patients and visitors.
What happened and when
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pregnancy diagnosis | Condition identified around 16 weeks |
| Birth | 6 January at 32 weeks |
| Time with family | Family spent four days with Thomas in a cold cot |
| Transfer | Walk through public corridors to hospital exit and funeral directors |
Support for families and the wider community
The appeal is rooted in a simple premise: compassionate care should extend beyond the delivery suite to every stage of a family’s journey. By installing a dedicated privacy pram, the centre would be able to handle sensitive transfers more discreetly, potentially reducing trauma for parents at their most vulnerable and for other families who may be present in public areas.
Although specialist bereavement equipment such as cold cots already provides families time to say goodbye, the need Maddie identifies is practical and immediate — how to move through a busy hospital without drawing attention or causing further pain. Her experience illustrates how small changes in infrastructure can make a significant difference to care in a maternity setting.
Appeal launched after gratitude for care
Maddie emphasises that the campaign is not a criticism of the staff — whom she credits with outstanding support — but a request for one additional tool to help them offer even more considerate care. The fundraising effort, she says, is about ensuring that anyone who must undertake that same walk can do so with greater privacy.
While specific donation details were not shared in the information available, the family’s intent is clear: to fund a privacy pram for the Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre at Burnley General Hospital so that future bereaved parents are spared a public journey at a time of intense grief.
Local impact and next steps
For a maternity unit serving families across Burnley and the surrounding area, the addition of a privacy pram would strengthen bereavement pathways and protect the wellbeing of all who use the hospital. The proposal has resonance beyond one family’s story, reflecting a broader conversation about sensitive environments in busy NHS settings. As the appeal gathers momentum, community support could help to put in place a simple, humane measure with lasting benefits.
Residents who wish to learn more about the appeal or support bereavement services at the centre may look for updates from the family or contact the hospital for advice on how such donations can be facilitated. The family’s message — shaped by gratitude and loss — is a call for practical compassion that the local community can rally behind.
