A hospital support group has been told to stop calling stillborn babies 'angels', as the 'religious word may offend'
Michelle Taylor, who set up the group, chose the term 'angel' as she felt it was the perfect word to describe stillborn and miscarried babies. Health chiefs have stepped in and asked her to drop the word as it may offend parents who are not religious.
The group donates 'New Angel Mum' bags for families at Colchester General Hospital, which contains announcement cards, and a handwritten letter addressed to the 'new angel parents'
Ms Taylor defends her decision to call them angels, saying "the word angel is not meant to have a religious sense whatsoever. It is just a word we call our children when we lose them. It is a beautiful word and it fits perfectly."
She went on to complain that staff had opened the sealed pack, despite the contents being pre-approved by a senior midwife.
Members of the group have defended the use of the word 'angel'. Bereaved father Ted Townsend wrote to the group: "'The word has got to be angels. There is no other word to describe them. Whether religious or not, the term angels sums up what these babies are. What a stupid world we live in."
Senior midwife Jenny Collins, from Colchester Hospital University NHS Trust, said: 'We are not happy about the use of the word "angel" on a card in the bag giving information about Whisperer because we suspect that it has the potential to offend some parents at what is an extraordinarily difficult and sensitive time for them.
What do you think about the use of the word 'angel'? Is this an overreaction by the hospital?
Source: Daily Mail