17 October 2025

The maternity bereavement room (the Nightingale Suite) at Queen Alexandra (QA) Hospital has been transformed with the installation of LED skylights, bringing warmth and light to a space that supports parents through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

The project was made possible thanks to the fundraising efforts of Ollie and Sally, whose personal experience inspired a remarkable challenge. Ollie, 30, and Sally, 29, have lived in and around the Portsmouth area their whole lives. Ollie, marketing manager for De’Longhi and hobbyist runner, and Sally have two children, one of which was born just 6 weeks after Ollie completed his fundraising challenge!

In order to raise funds, Ollie set himself an extraordinary challenge: running 100 kilometres between two cones set just 160 metres apart on Southsea Seafront. On 26 April 2025, he took on the challenge so that he could support parents facing loss by transforming the bereavement room into a place of comfort. On his JustGiving page, Ollie said:

“When my wife and I went for a scan for our baby at around 14.5 weeks, we were taken to the bereavement room after being told our baby had sadly passed due to a chromosomal disorder. I still remember that room, the tired furniture, the faded pictures, the heaviness of the space.

That experience made me realise how much the environment can impact how supported and cared for people feel during such an incredibly difficult moment. Although a room can’t change the outcome, it can change how people experience it and bringing warmth, comfort, and a sense of compassion when it’s needed most.

That’s why my donation goal is to help create a space that feels safe, comforting, and full of care. A place that offers a little light during a very dark time.”

Thanks to his dedication and the generosity of supporters, the Nightingale Suite now features bespoke LED skylights that cast the illusion of blue skies and cherry blossoms above families, offering a small but significant source of peace.

Jo Waterman, the Bereavement Midwife & PMRT Lead Midwife at QA Hospital, said:

“We hope that our new LED skylights provide a small comfort to parents who are sadly admitted to our maternity bereavement suite. At such a time of sadness, we want to be able to create an environment which makes families feel safe and nurtured. The whole maternity team helped choose the design and we are incredibly happy with how they look; all babies will be cuddled under blue skies and beautiful cherry blossoms.”

The installation marks a step forward in the hospital’s commitment to supporting families during bereavement, ensuring that even in the darkest of times, there is light.