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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

1st National Conference on Bereavement in a Healthcare Setting

There are over half a million deaths each year in the UK. Research suggests that each death leaves an average of six people significantly affected. While for the majority of people, pereavement, whilst debilitating, is a temporary condition from which they will begin to emerge after six months or so, with no permanent detriment; for the 10-20% who experience more complicated grief, the experience may have a long term effect on their functioning. This conference will address these important issues, in a series of keynote addresses and through selected workshops and seminars.

Further details can be found via the following link:

When a patient dies : Experiential bereavement training

The purpose of the training is to improve the awareness and understanding of those who come into contact with recently bereaved people and to develop and enhance the skills that they need to work sensitively and empathically. These workshops will be helpful for anyone working in the field of bereavement in the NHS whether as a nurse, doctor, in a support service such as PALS, or within the bereavement care department itself. Others, including staff working in nursing or residential care homes may also find this training beneficial.

Experiential training available in Birmingham in December 2007 and January 2008

CPD Accredited

Video guide to the post mortem procedure

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.

Healthcare Commission report: Spotlight on complaints

One of the areas that this recent report highlights is that care surrounding the death of a patient is one of the most common themes making up 54% of complaints about hospitals.  The Healthcare Commission recommends using the Department of Health advice (When a Patient Dies: Advice on  Developing Bereavement Services in the NHS) as a benchmark for developing services for dying patients and their relatives.

New Master's degree in Pathology and Bereavement Support

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.

Bereavement Services Association (BSA) - new website

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.

Developing bereavement services in the NHS : workshops for NHS staff

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:

When a patient dies: advice on developing bereavement services in the NHS

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.

Survey of bereavement care and other support services

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.

Bereavement publications

Policy publications about bereavement and bereavement counselling.

Bereavement useful links

Related websites offering bereavement advice and support, some of which are run by charitable trusts.

Additional links

Related Links

Directgov

Links to advice and information on death and bereavement across all government departments: making a will, inheritance tax, and government assistance such as Funeral Payments and Bereavement Payments

Additional Links

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