Hospital protocol thwarts free angel service

A Hamilton woman making ‘angel’ casts for families of dead children has been stopped from providing her services on Waikato Hospital grounds.

In March Hamilton News covered the story of Jen Christiansen and the casting business she has adapted to provide the angel  casting free of charge to families who have lost their babies.

A devastated Mrs Christiansen shared the news of the ban on her Facebook page, along with a picture of a tiny foot she had been invited to cast.

“This wee angels mum and dad has kindly allowed me to share this photo with you all to show you what we stand to lose if the WDHB no longer allows free voluntary services for bereaved families in Hamilton,” Mrs Christiansen wrote.

“In a public hospital it is a patients right to have whoever they choose to be there as their support people.”

Hospital protocol is that all service providers must contact the Clinical Product Co-Ordinator before visiting and sign in.

Waikato DHB spokeswoman Mary Anne Gill from the WDHB has said that the rules around business visitors are clearly displayed on the WDHB website and Mrs Christiansen has failed to meet protocol.

“Jennifer Christiansen of Preggy Pukus has said she has never “applied” to be a business visitor and does not “sign in” as a visitor.”

Although Mrs Christiansen provides a free service at the personal request of families Mrs Gill has said the same rules still apply.

“There is still a protocol that should be followed because she does provide a business service to other families.”

The decision has come as a shock to Mrs Christiansen and her supporters who have been posting on the Preggy Pukus Facebook page.

A woman who lost her baby boy at 21 weeks was just one of the hundreds of people that have commented since the issue was raised on Friday, saying: “I would dearly have loved to have this done as it would have given me something to hold. This service is extremely important to those who lose babies. Get with the program WDHB.”

The WDHB have also made comments on the Preggy Pukus Facebook page: “To those reading this, you may have read another comment from a person saying they “sneaked in” to provide their services in the hospital. How do you feel about people providing professional services “sneaking in” shortly after you have had a baby or lost a baby?”

To which Mrs Christiansen replied, “We are personally invited in by the families as a part of their support network.”

“I didn’t realise how hot this topic would be, but felt it was a community issue as this [is] a public hospital. Obviously the public feel very passionate about it so it needs to be addressed.”