When a patient is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, the impact extends to the whole family. It can be helpful for the family and others to discuss fears and concerns at an early stage. Parents often have difficulties talking with children about what is happening. Our skilled counsellors can provide specialist support and guidance.

For many patients and relatives, a confidential discussion about personal problems, hopes and anxieties or concerns can be very helpful in living with a life-threatening illness.

The Hospice's Family Support Team is staffed by professionally trained counsellors. They work closely with their colleagues in the Clinical Palliative Care Team at the Hospice, who can arrange for a referral to be made. Other referrals are made by community nurses and the patient's GP. Patients and family members are welcome to contact the Family Support Team direct and in confidence.

We have trained volunteers who provide family support by offering respite care, thus enabling family members to leave the house. They also assist with practical tasks such as shopping and collecting medications. Our family support also extends into bereavement care.

If you would like further information about family support, please e-mail enquiries@hospiceintheweald.org.uk, fax or telephone the hospice so that we can provide more detailed information about the services that we can offer

BEREAVEMENT CARE SERVICES

An important part of our care for family members, carers, and others significant in a patient's life, involves support in anticipating their loss in bereavement. We aim to extend hospice care following a patient's death by offering guidance and support in the time immediately afterwards to those who have been bereaved.

Our Bereavement Service provides individual and group counselling support for those for whom this may be helpful. While not everyone who is bereaved will want or need counselling, many people benefit from talking confidentially with a trained listener who is separate from the family. Our bereavement counsellors are professionally selected, trained and supervised. The Hospice provides booklets for guidance in coping with bereavement concerning adults, children and adolescents.

The Hospice also organises a quarterly Remembrance Gathering to honour those who have died, through readings, prayers and music. These events are designed to involve people of different faiths and none. A candle is lit for each person who has died, and, if the relatives so wish, their name is spoken aloud. Afterwards, there is an opportunity to talk with others over tea and coffee.

For further information about the Hospice's Bereavement Service, please contact our Bereavement Services Manager on 01892 820528.