Croydon University Hospital Bereavement Booklet

Dear Relatives,

On behalf of Croydon Health Services we would like to offer our sincere condolences on your bereavement. We understand the distress and upset that losing someone we love brings and the grief that follows. However, I would like to assure you that our Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Team and Bereavement Services will provide all the care and help that you may need during these traumatic times.

Following the death there are many arrangements to be made. It is very difficult to think about these at a time when someone we love has passed away. However, we have produced this guide to provide you with some help and guidance in the steps that you may need to take following the death. We hope this will guide you through these arrangements.

In the event that you need any further assistance please do not hesitate in contacting either of the following who will provide further assistance. Chaplaincy

We would like to reassure you of our commitment to the highest level of care to our patients and relatives.

Chief Executive

Medical Examiner System

In line with Government Policies, Croydon Health Services has introduced the Medical Examiner System. From April 2023, all deaths in the community or acute settings that do not require to be referred to the coroner (sometimes referred to as non-coronial deaths) will be scrutinized by a medical examiner.

The introduction of the medical examiner system is designed to:

• Provide bereaved families with greater transparency and opportunities to raise concerns

• Improve the quality/accuracy of medical certification of cause of death

• Ensure referrals to coroners are appropriate

• Support local learning/improvement by identifying matters in need of clinical governance and related processes

• Provide the public with greater safeguards through improved and consistent scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths, and support healthcare providers to improve care through better learning

• Align with related systems such as the Learning from Deaths Framework and Universal Mortality Reviews.

The office comprises of a medical examiner (ME) and medical examiner officers (MEO). Medical Examiners are senior medical doctors, who are trained in the legal and clinical elements of death certification processes. Their role is to scrutinise medical records, liaising with attending clinicians to provide an accurate medical cause of death. Medical Examiner Officers are a vital part of the medical examiner service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. MEOs come from a range of backgrounds, i.e. nursing, coronial and bereavement. They are the constant of the ME office and oversee the day to day running of the office.

You can contact our Medical Examiners office as follows. Phone Hours: 10am – 4pm, tel: 0208 401 3646

Email: ch-tr.medicalexaminer@nhs.net

Patient Property

If you have not already collected any property you will need to contact the Bereavement Office to collect any personal property from the hospital. Please telephone before you come to the hospital and Bereavement staff will be able to go through the processes. You can telephone from 9am until 4pm Monday to Friday. You will find the Bereavement Office in the Woodcroft Wing, ground floor, (Yellow Zone) near the Woodcroft Road entrance.

Telephone: (020) 8401 3104 or (020) 8401 3143

Visit between: 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday

We will arrange a time for you to collect your relatives belongings.

The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)

The MCCD enables the deceased’s family to register the death. It is normally done electronically by scanning and emailing the MCCD to the Croydon Register Office.

Once the MCCD has been completed, the ME office will contact the next of kin (NOK) or the preferred contact (as instructed by the NOK). The office will discuss/explain the medical terminology on the MCCD and give you the opportunity to raise any concerns regarding care.

For information about the MCCD you may contact the ME office. You can contact the office via email with your name, relation to the deceased (if you are the first next of kin or preferred contact) and contact number. You may also call. Please understand that there may be delays in accepting calls due to a large numbers of calls.

Contact details for the Medical Examiner’s office are on page 1.

If the death is referred to the Coroner, the Coroner’s Office will contact the Next of Kin once the case has been allocated to a coroner’s officer.

A member of the Coroner’s Office is available on 020 8313 1883 to help with any enquiries you might have. Telephones are answered between 8am – 12pm and 1pm – 3.30pm alternatively you can email: Admin.Coroner@croydon.gov.uk Please note that the Coroner’s Office prefers to deal with one nominated family member/next of kin.

A death in the Emergency Department

If the death has occurred in the Emergency Department, a named nurse will be responsible for you and the care for the person who has died. There is a private room available for you to use. Please ensure any valuables are taken and not left.

A significant number of deaths which occur in the Emergency Department have to be reported to the Coroner. This is done the next working day by the clinical team. The Coroner’s Officer will contact you to inform you if a post-mortem examination is needed, or if the Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death can be issued, by either the hospital or the general practitioner.

Registering the death

Unfortunately the registration service is unavailable at the hospital and you will need to make an appointment to register at the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths at Croydon Town Hall. MCCD must have been issued before you can make an appointment. Make an appointment as soon as you can.

To make an appointment, please telephone the Register Office 020 8726 6300 or alternatively you can make an appointment online by visiting the following link:

www.croydon.gov.uk/births-deaths-marriages-and-citizenship/ death-and-bereavement/registering-death-step-step/book

All deaths must be registered within five days of the death taking place unless a Coroner is investigating the circumstances of the death.

When burial within 24 hours is required

If you require a burial to take place within 24 hours of the death please contact the Registrar’s Office on 020 8726 6300 9am-4pm Monday to Friday.

Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (except for Easter Sunday and Christmas Day) 9am -11am available on 07909 893145.

The Croydon Register Office can be found in Fell Road, Croydon, CR0 1NX

Open: Monday to Friday 9:30am - 4pm

The last appointment is 3:30pm Croydon Register Office Fell Road,

Who can register the death?

• A relative

• Someone present at the death

• An official from the hospital where the death took place

• The person making the arrangements with the funeral directors

The appointment usually lasts 30 minutes.

All calls go through to the Council Contact Centre where one of the Council staff will discuss what you need before putting you through to the Register Office.

Please be aware that there is no order of preference of who can register.

What you need when registering

When you have your appointment. You will also need to provide the following information:

• Information about when and where the death occurred

• The full name of the deceased, including maiden name/s if applicable

• The deceased’s date and place of birth

• The deceased’s occupation

• The deceased’s address

• If the deceased was married or in a civil partnership the full name and occupation of the spouse/civil partner

• NHS Number if known

• If possible the details of the Funeral Directors who will arrange the funeral.

• An email address for the person registering the death.

The registrar’s will issue a green form to yourself which you would need to provide to your designated Funeral Director.

If you need copies of the death registration for probate, access to bank accounts and for other organisations you will be able to obtain these after registering. These cost £11.00 each plus £3 postage and packaging and payment must be made by debit or credit card only. You would need to complete the online application form which can be found using the following link:

www.croydon.gov.uk/births-deaths-marriages-and-citizenship/ death-and-bereavement/registering-death-step-step/book

You cannot photocopy this yourself as a photocopy will not be accepted as a legal document. If you find you need additional copies later these may be obtained online and cost £11.00 each using the following link:

www.croydon.gov.uk/births-deaths-marriages-and-citizenship/ order-copies-certificates/order-copy-certificate

The Hospital Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Department

The Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care team at the hospital can offer pastoral, spiritual and religious care to bereaved people of all beliefs. They have contacts with most faith groups and can usually contact an appropriate representative for you.

Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care maybe able to provide confidential bereavement support to relatives and friends of the deceased. If you would like to see one of the Hospital Chaplains, please inform a member of the ward staff, or one of the staff in the Bereavement Office, who will be pleased to arrange this for you.

Alternatively, you can also contact the Chaplains directly as follows:

The Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Office

Croydon University Hospital

London Road

Croydon CR7 7YE

Telephone: (020) 8401 3105

Email: andrew.dovey@nhs.net

lynbert.douglas@nhs.net

deborah.premraj@nhs.net

Our Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Office is manned from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

If you have an emergency out of these hours, our telephone operators will contact the on call Chaplain.

Other considerations

Outpatient appointments

It may take a while for your loved one’s death to be communicated to all aspects of the hospital administration. To avoid distress, you may find it helpful to telephone and cancel any outpatient appointments, if you do not have a direct number for the department you can call our switchboard who will direct you.

Telephone: 020 8401 3000

Other support

There are organisations which can help you during this difficult time. You will find their names and telephone numbers in the final section of this booklet. If you need help with this, please feel free to contact our Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Team.

The Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Office

Croydon University Hospital

London Road

Croydon CR7 7YE

Telephone: (020) 8401 3105

Email: andrew.dovey@nhs.net

lynbert.douglas@nhs.net

deborah.premraj@nhs.net

Can I arrange to see my loved one?

Most people prefer to see their loved one at the funeral director’s chapel; your funeral director will be able to arrange this. However, if you want to visit your loved one at the Chapel of Rest at Croydon, you can arrange this by telephoning the Chapel of Rest on (020) 8401 3000 extension 4712 (9am - 3:30pm Monday to Friday).

The Chapel of Rest is located in the mortuary building located down the left hand side as you face the emergency department.

Viewings in the Chapel of Rest are by appointment only during normal opening hours Monday to Friday (excluding weekends and bank holidays).

There may be a restriction on the number of visitors at any one time for your loved one.

Viewings cannot usually be arranged out of hours but in an emergency please contact the ward staff who will be able to advise you.

Post-mortem examination (autopsy)

There are two types of post-mortem, Coroner’s post-mortem and hospital post-mortem.

Coroner

Coroners are independent judicial officers who investigate someone’s death. Circumstances where a Coroner is involved include:

• The deceased was not seen by a medical pracitioner within the last 28 days

• Although a doctor attended during the last illness the deceased was not seen within 14 days before or after death

• The cause of death appears to be unknown

• The death occurred during an operation or before recovery from the effects of an anaesthetic

• The death was sudden or unexpected

• The death was unnatural

• The death was in suspicious circumstances

Coroner’s post-mortems are carried out by law and therefore permission from relatives/next of kin is not needed.

Contact details for the Coroner’s Office are on page 3.

Hospital post-mortem

You may also be asked if you will give your permission for a hospital post-mortem examination to be performed. These are sometimes necessary to determine exactly how a person has died. They are very important for doctors to learn about the causes of death and improving treatments. Usually a doctor or a nurse will discuss the post-mortem with you.

You will be invited to consent to a post-mortem which involves the completion of a post-mortem consent form. A member of the clinical staff will assist you in completing the form if you agree to consent.

There is also a small leaflet which accompanies the consent form and explains more details. The leaflet emphasizes that during and after a post-mortem, the hospital is very sensitive to any specific cultural or religious needs that must be adhered to. Staff will ask you about these during the consent process.

You do not have to agree to a hospital post-mortem. The post-mortem will be done as soon as possible after the death and will not involve any lengthy delays in funeral arrangements.

Body donation

Some people have previously made arrangements for their body to be used for medical research by one of the London anatomy organisations after their death. If this is the case you should contact the relevant organisation and also inform the Hospital Bereavement Services.

Mortality review

We are aware this is a difficult and distressing time for you but wanted to make you aware of a process that the Trust follows, known as ‘mortality review’, for all in-patient deaths. This is undertaken in all hospitals.

The care provided to your loved one, who has sadly died whilst under our care, will be reviewed to consider whether any learning can be gained from the investigation. Improvements will be made where required, to make care safer for future patients.

Arranging the funeral

There are many funeral directors in Croydon. As the decision about who will conduct the funeral for your loved one is an important one, consider talking to more than one company before making your final choice. Recommendations by family and friends may also help in making a selection. Finally, if you wish to visit your loved one in the funeral director’s chapel you may prefer to choose a company nearer to where you live.

It is advisable to contact the funeral director of your choice as soon as possible to discuss arrangements. It is not necessary to wait until you have collected the MCCD or registered the death. However, the funeral director will need the certificate of burial or cremation, which the Registrar will give you, before the final arrangements for the funeral can be made.

If you choose not to appoint a funeral director but to make your own arrangements, please contact the hospital mortuary on 020 8401 3000 extension 4712 regarding any necessary documentation and arrangements for the release of the body.

Burials abroad

If a person is to be buried outside England and Wales (this includes Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as well as other parts of the world), the funeral director will be able to help you with this. When you register the death you will need to obtain at least two certified copies of the death certificate (some consulates and embassies require more). You will need to give the copies to your funeral director who will then obtain an ‘Out of England’ certificate and an infection free certificate which can be obtained from the hospital. Please contact our Bereavement Officer who will help you.

Funeral payments

A funeral payment is a payment to help people on a low income with the essential costs of a funeral. You do not have to repay a funeral payment, although it can be recovered from the estate of the person who has died.

Who can claim a funeral payment

You can claim a funeral payment if you or your partner is getting one of the following:

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Housing benefit

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit, if your award includes a child, disabled child or severely disabled child element

• Working Tax Credit including an extra amount for disability

• Universal Credit.

Your capital (for example, savings) doesn’t affect a funeral payment. For further details on how to claim through the DWP, please refer to page 19.

Responsibility for the funeral

You will not get a funeral payment just because you are paying for a funeral. The Jobcentre Plus office, or Social Security Agency office in Northern Ireland, has to accept that it is reasonable for you to be responsible for the funeral costs and that there is no one else who should be paying for it. If you are claiming funeral costs for your child who has died or if you are the partner of the person who has died, you can be paid a funeral payment as long as you meet the benefit conditions.

If you are a close relative, family member or a friend of the person who has died, you may be able to get a funeral payment, but it will depend whether there are other relatives alive who are not on benefit. If there is someone closer or equally close to the person who has died who is not on benefit, you cannot usually get a funeral payment. In this situation, Jobcentre Plus will also consider whether it is reasonable for you to accept responsibility for the funeral expenses.

What costs can be met

A funeral payment will not cover all the costs of a funeral. A funeral payment can include:

• the costs of a new burial plot or the costs of cremation

• the cost of transporting the body for the return journey between the funeral home or place of rest and the place where the person died. But only if this journey is over 50 miles.

• the cost of transporting the coffin and one car of mourners to the funeral

• the cost of getting documents to release the assets of the person who has died.

A funeral payment can also include up to £700 for other expenses, such as; director’s fees, flowers or extra religious requirements.

When to claim a funeral payment

You can claim a funeral payment from the date of death up to 3 months after the date of the funeral, even if you have already paid the funeral bill.

You can claim by:

• phoning the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Bereavement Service. They can take a claim for a funeral payment and bereavement benefits over the phone. They can also do a benefit check to see if the next of kin is entitled to any other benefits as a result of the death

• contacting your local Jobcentre Plus office for a claim form SF200

• downloading an SF200 claim form from the GOV.UK website at www.gov.uk.

If you are refused a funeral payment

If you are refused a funeral payment or think your award is lower than it should be, you can challenge the decision. You should do this within one month of the decision.

For more information about funeral payments from the Social Fund, go to the GOV.UK website at: www.gov.uk.

For more information about challenging a decision, see problems with benefits and tax credits.

If you are not happy with a funeral payment decision you can also consult an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau.

People to inform

There are various people, companies and authorities that need to be informed of the death. Remember, some may need a copy of the death certificate. Others may need a letter of explanation.

Here are a few you may need to consider informing:

Pets

If you need help in finding a new home for any pets your loved one may have had The Cinnamon Trust, a National Charity, can offer advice. Tel: 01736 757 900 Website: www.cinnamon.org.uk

Stopping Junk Mail to the recently deceased

If someone you know has died, the amount of unwanted marketing post being sent to them can be greatly reduced which helps to stop painful daily reminders.

By registering with the free service www.stopmail.co.uk the names and addresses of the deceased are removed from mailing lists, stopping most advertising mail within as little as six weeks. If you cannot access the internet you can call 0808 168 9607, where you will be asked for very simple information that will take only a few minutes to complete. Alternatively, ask the bereavement team for a leaflet that can be returned in the post.

This free of charge service provided by the Bereavement Support Network will actively reduce the unwanted marketing mail but also can help reduce the likelihood of identity theft following the death of someone close. The information is not used for any other purpose and you only have to complete this once. Additionally to Stop Mail a comparable service can also be accessed from the Bereavement Register or Deceased Preference Service if you would prefer to use them.

When you are bereaved

Bereavement is a shattering experience. You may experience feelings of loss and grief that feel overwhelming. The death of someone close can affect you in several ways, emotionally, physically, socially and in many practical areas of your life.

Your bereavement may feel like the greatest challenge you have ever faced and at times, especially in the early days, it may seem impossible to carry on. But you will find ways of moving forward and of gradually coming to terms with what has happened.

Try to be gentle with yourself. Grief is messy, it is exhausting, it seems as if it is going to stay forever, but within yourself you will find the resources you need to journey on and to heal. In time your memories, although they may cause pain now, will bring pleasure and new hope.

It helps to talk

We need to express our pain and grief for us to heal. You may find you need to talk about the events leading up to your loved one’s death, and about the death itself, many times. This is quite natural, and is one of the ways we gradually make sense of what has happened. It is good to talk to family and friends if you can but immediately after a bereavement this is not always possible, so sometimes people also find it helpful talking with someone who has experience of providing emotional support following the death of a loved one. We have therefore provided a list of contacts below that can also be used to help you manage this difficult time.

Avoid rushing into things

In the early months of grief our emotions may fluctuate widely. Nothing seems important, decision-making may be very difficult. It is not a good idea to rush into big decisions such as the disposing of our loved one’s possessions, the sale of one’s home, a change of career direction etc, until the feelings of grief and loss are less intense. If you give yourself time you are less likely to make a decision you may later regret.

Avoid isolation

Grief can be an incredibly lonely and isolating experience. Being with others, friends or a support group, who have also experienced loss can be a great help.

Accept that you will not be functioning as effectively as usual for a while. Poor concentration and memory is normal. Ask friends to help, and try not to set yourself unrealistic tasks for each day. You may feel very much out of control. It is often helpful to put a little structure into your day, planning household chores in the morning and a little gentle exercise in the afternoon. Our grief can be felt in our bodies so a gentle walk or other exercise can relieve tension. Plan treats as well to allow yourself a break from the pain. Going to a film you enjoy or a visit to a friend is important and does not mean you have in any way forgotten your loved one.

Returning to work

When you go back to work, try to find ways of supporting yourself. You may like a colleague to accompany you into work on the first day. Let people know whether or not you would like them to talk about what has happened. You can always change your mind once you have been back a while.

If possible, return to work gradually, perhaps doing shorter hours or just a few days for the first couple of weeks. Remember you will not yet be able to work to your usual capacity. Be patient with yourself, and make sure that there are times built into the day when you can be away from your desk to have some peace or the opportunity for a few tears.

Remember

There are no rules for grief. Each individual is unique and we grieve in our own way and in our own time. You may find these guidelines helpful, you may not. Learn to listen to yourself, to find what works for you. Accept that what helps initially may not help as much later on. Whatever happens, be kind to yourself. You will be able to carry on. Life will become good again. However it feels now, trust that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Organisations offering help and advice

Age UK

0800 169 6565

Assist Trauma Care

01788 551919

Bereavement Support Network

www.bereavementadvice.co.uk

Age UK’s website offers fact sheets in relation to the loss of a loved one.

Support after a traumatic bereavement.

A free of charge online resource that provides clear advice and information following the death of someone close.

Carers UK Advice Line

0808 808 7777

Child Death Helpline

0800 282 986

Open: 10:00-13:00 & 19:0022:00 Monday-Friday

The Compassionate Friends Helpline

0345 123 2304

Email: helpline@tcf.org.uk

Open: 10:00-16:00 & 19:0022:00

CRUSE (Croydon branch)

020 8916 0855

Email: croydon@cruse.org.uk

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

0800 731 0469

For all those affected by the death of a child.

Support after the death of a child of any age.

The national bereavement organisation.

www.gov.uk is a Government website that contains a wide range of services and practical information on what to do after death in England and Wales, including any benefits, your eligibility and how to claim.

Citizens Advice

0800 144 88 88 (Adviceline)

Open: 9.00 - 17.00 MondayFriday

Hope Again Helpline

0808 808 1677

Email: hopeagain@cruse.org.uk

Open 9:30-17:00 Monday-Friday

Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service

0208 951 3881

Email: enquiries@jbcs.org.uk

Advice centre offering free, confidential and independent advice face to face or by telephone.

Support for young people after loss.

The Lullaby Trust

0808 802 6868

Email: support@lullabytrust.org.uk

Open: 10:00-17:00 MondayFriday. 18:00-22:00 Saturday & Sunday

Macmillan Cancer Support

0808 808 0000

www.macmillan.org.uk

7 days a week, 8:00-20:00

A dedicated Jewish bereavement counselling service for adults and children individually, families, couples and groups.

Supporting people affected by loss, including suicide, disaster, holocaust issues, sudden infant death, miscarriages, still birth and abortion.

Support for families who have lost a baby or toddler.

If someone close to you dies from cancer, Macmillan can help you cope with grief, get you all the practical information you need and, when you’re ready, offer ways to celebrate the life of your loved one.

Muslim Bereavement Support

020 3468 7333

Email: info@mbss.org.uk

Muslims Funeral Services

www.mfs.org.uk

Email: info@mfs.org.uk

07852 268014

Roadpeace

0845 4500 355

Email: helpline@roadpeace.org

Open 9:00 - 17:00 MondayFriday

The Samaritans Helpline

116 123

Email: jo@samaritans.org

Open 24/7 throughout the year

Croydon Samaritans

0330 094 5717

2b Kidderminster Rd, Croydon CR9 2BQ

Drop in available from 7.30am to 9.00pm except Sundays

Roadpeace provides emotional and practical support to those bereaved or injured in a road crash. They are a member based charity for road crash victims in the UK, and also have local support groups.

A confidential emotional support service available to anyone in a crisis.

SAMM (Support after Murder and Manslaughter)

0121 472 2912

The Silver Line Helpline

0800 470 8090

Email: info@thesilverline.org.uk

www.thesilverline.org.uk

The Silver Line is the only free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Society (SANDS)

0808 164 3332

Email: helpline@sands.org.uk

Open: 9:30 – 17:30 MondayFriday and 18:00-20:00 Tuesday & Thursday

Sudden Death Support Association

0800 2600 400

Email: help@sudden.org

www.sudden.org

Support for People with Learning Disabilities

www.dyingmatters.org

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS)

0300 111 5065

Email: email.support@uksobs.org

www.uksobs.org

Sudden is a global charitable initiative by Brake, the road safety charity, sharing best practice, research and resources among professionals and carers who work with suddenly bereaved people.

Dying Matters website has some useful resources to help support people with learning difficulties.

SOBS aims to provide a safe, confidential environment in which people bereaved by suicide can share their experiences and feelings.

Switchboard

0300 330 0630

Terence Higgins Trust

0808 802 1221

Email: info@tht.org.uk

The Natural Death Centre

Email: contact@naturaldeath.org.uk

www.naturaldeath.org.uk

Switchboard offers a telephone support and advice service for lesbians and gay men bereaved by the death of a partner, or otherwise affected by bereavement. The helpline is run by trained volunteers. There is also a bereavement support group providing a safe space for LGBT people who have lost their partners.

Support for those affected by HIV or AIDS.

The Natural Death Centre has been established for 21 years and is a social, entrepreneurial, educational charity that gives free, impartial advice on all aspects of dying, bereavement, planning a family led or do it yourself funeral and consumer rights. Read ‘The Natural Death Handbook’.

Victim Support (Croydon Branch)

020 7801 1777

WAY Widowed and Young

www.widowedandyoung.org.uk

Woodside Bereavement Service (020) 3256 2009

Email: wbs@thelisteningear.org.uk

For men and women aged 50 or under after the death of their partner.

Services in relation to supporting children

Child Bereavement UK

0800 02 888 40

Email: helpline@childbereavementuk.org

www.childbereavementuk.org

The Child Death Helpline

Tel: 0800 282986

www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk

Monday to Friday 10:00 - 13:00

Tuesday and Wednesday 13:0016:00

Every evening 19:00 - 22:00

The Compassionate Friends (TCF)

0345 123 2304

Email: helpline@tcf.org.uk

www.tcf.org.uk

Available from 10:00 - 16:00 and 19:00 - 22:00. The line is always answered by a bereaved parent.

Cruse Bereavement Care –Hope Again

0808 808 1677

Email: hopeagain@cruse.org.uk

www.hopeagain.org.uk

CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young)

01737

363222

Email: cry@c-r-y.org.uk

Child Bereavement UK is a national organisation that supports families when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.

Freephone confidential Helpline open every day of the year for anyone affected by the death of a child.

TCF is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of those who have suffered the death of a child/children.

Hope Again is a website developed by Cruse Bereavement Care’s Youth Involvement Project which aims to support young people after the death of someone close to them.

Grief Encounter Project

0808 802 0111

www.griefencounter.org.uk

Monday to Friday 9:00 – 21:00

Winston’s Wish

08088 020 021

Email: ask@winstonswish.org

www.winstonswish.org

Monday to Friday 8:00 – 20:00

Offers support and information to bereaved children and families.

Charity offering practical support and guidance to bereaved children, their families and professionals.

Bereavement and loss following cancer and Covid

GriefChat

01524 889823

info@griefchat.co.uk

www.griefchat.co.uk

Safe space for grieving or bereaved people to be able to share their story, explore their feelings and be supported by a qualified bereavement counsellor. In addition to this, can help bereaved people to consider if they need additional support and where to get this from.

Grieftalk

0808 802 0111

grieftalk@griefencounter. org.uk

Sue Ryder

0808 164 4572

www.griefencounter.org.uk

Provide specialist bereavement support to children, teenagers and parents with children experiencing grief.

www.sueryder.org/how-we-can-help/ online-bereavement-support

Online bereavement support makes it easy to connect with the right support for information and resources, qualified counselling or a community of others with similar experiences.

The Loss Foundation

0300 200 4112

Jigsaw 4 U

020 8687 1384

www.thelossfoundation.org

Provides free bereavement support for loss to cancer or Covid-19.

www.jigsaw4u.org.uk

Jigsaw4u is a charity that provides a wide variety of services across the London Boroughs of Merton and Sutton. Provide bereavement counselling, but also a range of other support projects for children.

Please be aware that the information provided in this leaflet is correct at the time of going to print. The Trust cannot be held responsible for any changes that occur post publication.

Reference: Croydon Hospital Bereavement Booklet

Publication date: February 2024

Review date: February 2026

The Hospital would like to thank RNS Publications for publishing this information and the following pages contain some features from services o ering their help at this time.

Whilst the Hospital is grateful of their support it does not endorse or recommend any of the services that they provide.

It is distressing to deal with a bereavement and unsolicited mail can be insensitive and destructive during a grieving process.

By scanning the below QR code on your phone or visiting www.stopmail.co.uk, we are able to securely share this information with mailing organisations and under the Data Protection Act the information will not be used for any other purpose.

Other benefits reduce the possibility of identity fraud, such as assumed identity and you will only have to supply the information once.