New antenatal Rainbow Clinic for Stepping Hill Hospital

Stepping Hill Hospital has launched a new ‘Rainbow Clinic’ to provide extra support for mums and dads-to-be who have previously experienced stillbirth, late miscarriage or early neonatal death in a previous pregnancy.

11 babies die before or shortly after birth each day in the UK, and 70% of these families will go on to have another pregnancy within a year. The new pregnancies are themselves more likely to end in stillbirth than with other parents, raising the importance of extra clinical support.

The Rainbow Clinic is part of a national project to help support parents who have previously suffered this trauma, offering individualised care and extra scans to identify potential complications in the new term of labour. The team will also provide psychological care and support to a family who have already experienced loss, helping to them to cope with the anxieties which can accompany their new pregnancy.

The first Rainbow Clinic was set up at Saint Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, in 2013. Since opening, the clinic has cared for over 750 families, and overseen a reduction in stillbirths by 34%. A second clinic opened at Wythenshawe Hospital in 2016, and the new Rainbow Clinic at Stepping Hill Hospital makes it the third in the area.

Dr Lucy Tomlinson, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the new Rainbow Clinic is part of the team of two doctors and two specialist midwives. She said

Parents who have already been through a devastating experience with the loss of their child need specialist care and support, and that’s what the Rainbow Clinic team is here to provide. Previous Rainbow Clinics have had a real impact in reducing the tragedy of stillbirths, and we intend to continue that track record of success. We’re looking forward to supporting and guiding our mums and dads-to-be along the journeys of their pregnancies and prepare for the arrival of their rainbow babies.”

The Rainbow Clinic at Stepping Hill Hospital is supported by Health Innovation Manchester, which promotes uptake of innovation into health and social care services in Greater Manchester. Amanda Risino, Deputy Chief Executive/Managing Director at Health Innovation Manchester, said:

The Rainbow Clinic is a fantastic example of our ability to take a concept that has been developed through research and translate it into practice to directly benefit Greater Manchester citizens.  It is great to see Stockport come onboard and we are now working with the remaining maternity units across the city region to support full adoption and spread, ensuring that all families who need it can access this enhanced level of care.”

Pictured: L-R: Rainbow Clinic team, Nicola Kempson, Lucy Tomlinson, Madhavi Pureti, Amanda Killen.