Find more about web archiving at The National Archives.
Primary Navigation - link to other main sections from here
Bereavement
The care and support that people receive at the time of their bereavement can affect the whole bereavement process. The Chief Medical Officer has highlighted the need for NHS Trusts to put in place systems, policies and practices to ensure they provide the best possible bereavement service for those whose loved ones have died in hospital. These pages provide information and advice to help the NHS develop or improve the services it provides for those who have been bereaved.
The Department still has available from Prolog stores the DVD and video entitled "Respect for the Dead, Care for the Living" which has been produced to help improve public understanding of the post mortem process.
The National Bereavement Partnership has developed an MSc in Pathology and Bereavement Support with The Faculty of Health and Sciences at Staffordshire University. The first modules are underway this month. The course will provide understanding, knowledge, skills and confidence in aspects of the legal and ethical framework and an understanding of bereavement and communicating with bereaved people. The development of this MSc has been supported by The Royal College of Pathologists, The Royal College of Nursing, the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technologists (UK), the Coroners Officers Association and the Bereavement Services Association.
The BSA was established in May 2005 to provide a network for all those who provide bereavement support services, primarily within the NHS. The BSA has recently launched a new website to promote its work; to act as a communication medium between the Executive Committee and the membership and between members through a forum; to enable members to share policy documents, etc; and to offer advice to the general public about what to do following a death.
The Department of Health and the Bereavement Services Association have now jointly run five workshops for NHS staff based on the publication "When a Patient Dies : Advice on Developing Bereavement Services in the NHS". These took place in Manchester, Cambridge, Newcastle, Bristol and Birmingham. A summary of the key messages from the workshops is available from the link below. Information about the Bereavement Services Association can be obtained from:
Providing sensitive and appropriate care to the relatives and carers of dying or deceased patients is crucially important. Following consultation, the Department has now issued advice on developing bereavement services in the NHS. The advice describes the basic elements required to provide an appropriate service to this group of people. It also describes experiences of bereaved people and practical solutions already in place in hospitals around the country to deal with these various experiences. This advice supersedes HSG (92)8 and HSG (97)43.
Many thanks to all those who provided information for this survey. A summary report of the main findings of the survey can be found at the link below. The survey focussed on looking at the extent of bereavement services, how they are staffed and how they fit into the overall provision of service across a Trust. This information builds on the 2001 survey and will contribute to the continuing work of the Department to help NHS Trusts develop bereavement services.
Related websites offering bereavement advice and support, some of which are run by charitable trusts.
Secondary Navigation - links to other pages in this section
Health and social care topics
-
Current Page: Bereavement