Theme: Complex health care and chronic disease management.

Introduction: Support for bereaved parents after the death of a baby in the neonatal period is variable in the UK.

Aim: To explore parents’ experiences and perceptions of support needs during and following the death of their baby.

Methods: An interpretative phenomenological study using unstructured interviews was undertaken. Analysis was undertaken using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Results: Parental grief journeys are complicated by events experienced at the end of their baby’s life. A variety of support systems are needed to facilitate parental grief journeys.

Discussion: The variation in availability of support for parents after a neonatal death needs addressing. Whilst parental need is individualised, most parents need support in some format.

Conclusions: Health professionals have a key role to play in supporting parents and signposting other supportive mechanisms after a neonatal death.