This episode was quite good only insofar as the emotional parts played were concerned. However, the whole labour ward environment was just so wrong.

Assuming this wasn't a private delivery suite (they couldn't afford it, surely), where in the NHS do individual delivery rooms have pretty patterned bed linen and comfy armchairs?

Where were the delivery bits and pieces? There should have been a complete delivery set somewhere in the room, containing syringes, swabs, gallipots, bowls and kidney dishes, forceps and placenta scissors at the very least, to say nothing of disposable gown and gloves. There was no foetal heart monitoring equipment anywhere to be seen (I realise this would have been unnecessary in Shabnam's case, poor girl). There was no obvious sign of any entonox administration of which to avail herself. There was no apparent alcohol hand wipe facility anywhere for staff or visitors, and since when does a woman give birth on top of her duvet, however harrowing the circumstances?

In the quiet room where Kush saw and held his little son, where in today's NHS would you ever see such an elaborate arrangement of a crib? In addition, they could have wrapped up something more approaching the weight of a stillborn infant, because for all the world that baby wrap only appeared to contain fresh air. Thankfully the producers demonstrated a modicum of decency by not showing us the little mite, although there is a roaring trade these days in life-like baby dolls or 'reborns' (Google it, you'll see I'm right).

Infection control is one of the top priorities in today's NHS and I'm sorry, but last night's episode just flew in the face of common current practice that I've grown accustomed to over the past 25 years or so.

EastEnders is not a medical drama, now was the episode a documentary. it hasn't got the budget to purchase all those things you mentioned for a one off episode.

It doesn't have to be accurate in that sense, as viewers we are supposed to be focusing on the impact it had on the characters. Not whether they had all the right medical equipment.

I haven't actually experienced it myself but I think you'll find a suite like that in every major hospital. Dealing with such a tragedy has to be handled carefully and it would be insensitive of them to just put a woman in such a situation with a ward full of full term Mothers delivering healthy babies. I thought it was as true to the actuality as it could be.

Well put Scrabbler

The room was suitable for a stillbirth, you don't give birth in a normal labour ward if your baby has died. And yes they do have a fancy crib to put the child in. Everything is done differently.

They worked quite closely with Sands who gave them a lot of advice about the episode. I think they got it as accurate as much as they possibly could.

Maybe the birthing room portrayed is solely for the use of mothers and families in such a sad situation,it could be considered quite unnecessarily insensitive to invite a woman known to be giving birth to a sleeping baby into a delivery suite so clearly geared up to receive live births?!

Have read various bits of information birth of a stillborn is completely different. Yes maybe pain relief but I think seen has the baby has died they can offer stronger stuff. The birth wasn't shown so no need to need medical stuff. The only place I think you maybe have point is hand gel

The baby is 2 months premature so won't weigh much.

Some hospitals do have more homely like wards for events like this.

A Moses basket is much more dignified to leave better memories of a peaceful sleeping child.

Considering that EE's births usually take place in toilets, beer cellars or on the dirty floors of various eating establishments, it was pretty hygienic.

Very true Val

I think I'm right in saying that one such birth was achieved with the mum managing to keep her tights on throughout!

Anyone remember who this was? (I'm sure it was EE and not the other one!)

I honestly couldn't tell you about the bed linen but there was definitely a comfy chair in the delivery room when I had my eldest.

I think that was Daphne in Neighbours way back in the 1980's

From my vast experience of births (from watching OBEM ) i think everyone gets a private room for the actual delivery dont they?

As for the still birth suite, sadly, from a friend's experience, they do get a nicer room,she sit was like a hotel with an ensuite bathroom, priavte living room etc. Its usually funded by the SANDS charity or from fund raising by bereaved families. The lovely crib coverings are to hide its usually a cool crib (the rest is in spoilers tabs as very sensitive)

I think Kylie in Corrie gave birth without removing her tights

So did Amy in Emmerdale if I recall correctly...

I think they do have a more comforting room for tragedies like this. I saw it on One Born Every Minute. They had a cosy looking room for mothers who lost their child.

Kim in EE during the EE30 live episodes

Its a soap not a documentary

my friend had one of those little memory boxes. you're supposed to be taking home your baby, not a box of stuff

It's actually more realistic than you think. When you go to give birth to your baby some hospitals do have more secluded rooms (Bereavement Suites) at the end of maternity wards to give the parents privacy. Because we knew our Daughter had died (two days previously after them finding no heartbeat) there was no need for ultrasound equipment. While I was meant to have pain relief I ended up going into labour way before I was booked and they couldn't offer me any asides from a couple of inhalations of gas and air as it was too late to kick in.

Some hospitals have cold cots (moses baskets with a cold layer) so parents can spend longer with their baby. Unfortunately our hospital didn't provide this though they had a moses basket we could put her in which was placed on a trolley like in the programme.

I absolutely agree. I work in the NHS and, as an ex site practitioner, sometimes had to get dead babies from the mortuary, put in a ''crib''/moses basket and take to a private viewing area very much like the one portrayed in Eastenders.

Moreover, my cousin gave birth to a still born baby when she was about 43 and she was given a private room. There was no need for entonox because she was given analgesia normally not given to mothers having live births.

I was very impressed with Eastenders depiction, overall, and I am someone who normally gest very irritated by hospital scenes on TV.

so sorry for your loss Helen

Its ridiculous how everyone in EE seems to get a private room regardless of income level, I think only Stan was in a public room and that was so Andrew Sachs could have his cameo I feel.

We're not in the 60's anymore, I say that because my gran had to give birth to her stillborn daughter in hospital back then and she was put straight back on the maternity ward, surrounded by women with their babies. Then when one woman couldn't express milk, the nurse came and asked my gran if she could spare some of hers! *Wish I was kidding, but I am not.*

I think experiences like this have altered the way the NHS deals with stillbirths, most hospitals have birthing units and private suites set up away from the main maternity unit that do look like a home away from home. It's meant to be warm and inviting, as inviting as it can be when you're going in for such a dreadful reason.