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Support for bereaved families

  • Last modified date:
    2 March 2007

All NHS trusts should provide a bereavement adviser to give the information and support that people need at such a difficult time, Sir Liam Donaldson told an audience at a conference held by the Child Bereavement Trust.

Jean Wilde and Fiona Corkhill receive their award

Jean Wilde and Fiona Corkhill receive their award

The Chief Medical Officer presented awards for outstanding bereavement support at a ceremony held by the charitable trust in London on 24 November, 2004.

'Colleagues around the country share my conviction and are putting it into practice in many different ways, but all with the same determination to raise the profile and quality of services for bereaved people,' he said.

The death of a loved one unleashes deep emotions, and if the situation is not handled well it can cause great anger and distress. The answer is to provide continuity of care tailored to each case, and to involve families in what happens.

The Child Bereavement Trust, celebrating its 10th anniversary, launched a six-month campaign to draw award nominations from both professionals and the public, to celebrate those individuals and teams working in NHS to support bereaved families.

The charitable trust works to support bereaved families when a baby or child dies or when children are bereaved.

The award winners were:

  • Jean Wilde, a hospital play specialist at North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust (individual nominated by professionals).
  • The Regional Neonatal Unit at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester (team nominated by professionals).
  • Grovehurst Surgery, in Sittingbourne, Kent (team nominated by families).
  • Bernie Halford, a health visitor based in Aylesbury (individual nominated by families).

Two lifetime achievement awards were also given: to Richard Wilson, honorary consultant paediatrician of Kingston Hospital, and Sarah Macdonald, formerly head of midwifery at St John's Hospital, Livingston.

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