Further information and support

Practical Do’s and Don’ts

Do

• Choose a Funeral Director with whom you feel comfortable

• Express your emotions

• Talk about what has happened with your family, close friends or a sympathetic group

• Eat properly and rest

• Guard against accidents in the home

• Make sure your home is secure

• Consult your doctor if your health is a worry

• Contact ‘Cruse’ ‘Marie Curie’ or another group if you need extra support (contact numbers on pages 16-19 of this booklet)

Don’t

• Hide your feelings

• Let family or friends hurry you into making decisions or doing things until you are ready, for example sorting out your loved one’s belongings before you are ready to tackle that task yourself

• Enter into any financial arrangement you do not understand

• Allow the funeral to be rushed or be unnecessarily expensive

• Move home or make any major life changes whilst you are still grieving

• Hurry the healing process. Take it at your own pace

Bereavement is a distressing experience we all encounter during our lives. Yet it is something few of us talk about, resulting in little opportunity to learn about coping with the death of someone close to us. Grieving is a natural process that usually takes place after any death but, most powerfully, after the death of someone we love. For any further information on coping with grief and what support is available to you, please contact the Bereavement & Medical Examiner Office.

Marie Curie can provide bereavement support for people across Somerset who are over the age of 18. This service provides telephone support calls with compassionate volunteers. They have all completed specific training, including how to support people in sensitive situations and dealing with difficult subjects, such as death, dying and bereavement. In addition, a further six sessions of one to one bereavement counselling can be provided by experienced bereavement support workers at Mind in Somerset specialist bereavement service. Mind in Somerset support adults and children aged 12+. They can work in a whole family setting if needed.

If the designated Next of Kin has contacted the Marie Curie Bereavement Support Service they will receive a follow up call from a Marie Curie volunteer several weeks following the death of their loved one. You are not obliged to take this phone call and if you would like to opt out please let the staff in the Bereavement & Medical Examiner Office know on 01935

384746.

If you feel you would like to talk to someone sooner, you can self-refer to Marie Curie by telephoning 0800 090 2309. They are available Monday – Saturday 9am until 5pm.

Advice and Support

Child Bereavement UK

Supports bereaved children, teenagers and parents. 0800 02 888 40

Email: support@childbereavementuk.org

Citizens Advice Bureau

01823 282235 www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Compassionate Friends

Support for bereaved parents, of all ages, and their families. 0845 123 2304

Email: helpline@tcf.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care

Provides counselling and support to all bereaved people irrespective of age. National telephone helpline 0808 808 1677

Cruse Somerset referral line 01458 748008 or somerset@cruse.org.uk

Email: info@cruse.org.uk

Department of Work & Pensions

For further information about what to do after a death regarding wills, pensions, probate etc. www.gov.uk/after-a-death

Somerset Suicide Bereavement Support Service

Support and information for those bereaved by suicide. 0300 330 5463

Email: bereaved@mindtws.org.uk

Peer group meeting 1st Thursday of every month.

Swan Advocacy www.swanadvocacy.org.uk

Provides advocacy services in North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire, including generic advocacy and independent health complaints advocacy to support people to complain about NHS services. They have expertise where bereavement or end of life care are a factor.

The Good Grief Trust www.thegoodgrieftrust.org

For help & support in one place. Lists over 700 support networks for a range of different needs.

Email: hello@thegoodgrieftrust.org

The Way Foundation www.widowedandyoung.org.uk

A support group for people who have lost a husband, wife or partner at a young age.

Winston’s Wish Family

Line

Supports bereaved children and teenagers

08088 020 021

9am - 5pm Monday-Friday also Wednesday 7pm - 9.30pm

Email: info@winstonswish.org.uk

Support for military veterans, reserves and their families

Cruse

Specialist bereavement care charity who recognise the particular differences for veterans and military families who are grieving.

0808 808 1677 www.cruse.org.uk/organisations/grief-in-the-military

Soldiers’ Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association

A charity providing welfare, health and support services for the UK military’s serving personnel, veterans and their families.

- Access emotional support

- Seek assistance if you are struggling with finances or your personal circumstances change following your loss

For more information visit: www.ssafa.org.uk/get-help/ supporting-older-veterans/loss-of-a-loved-one

0800 260 6767

Defence Medical Welfare Service

Independent charity providing support to the armed forces community when they need help during times of physical or mental ill health, either in hospital, rehabilitation settings or at home.

www.dmws.org.uk

Professionals can refer people for emotional support from Justine Clayton, Welfare Officer at the Defence Medical Welfare Service, by emailing: jclayton@dmws.org.uk

Local military associations

Connect with people who have similar backgrounds. From there you can discover other networks and support. Although this is not specific to bereavement, it could still be helpful for your wellbeing

Royal British Legion counties.britishlegion.org.uk/counties/somerset/somersetbranches

Royal Naval Association www.royal-naval-association.co.uk/join-us

Search online for other local and virtual groups. Local veteran breakfast clubs in Taunton and Yeovil – search online through Facebook for details.

This list of contacts is just a selection of what is available and is not exhaustive. If you require any specific advice or support, please contact the Bereavement & Medical Examiners Office who can signpost you to the most appropriate agency.

Glastonbury & Wells Area

We wish to thanks the advertisers and sponsors, without whom this publication would not be possible

The Trust does not endorse any of the products or services they provide.

Whilst the information in this pack is correct at time of print, should anything become incorrect, for example, contact numbers and/or details, please inform the Bereavement Office on 01935 384746.

Reference: Yeovil District Hospital Bereavement Book

Review Date: Nov 2024

Publication Date: Nov 2022

The Hospital would like to thank RNS Publications for publishing this information and the following pages contain some features from local 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.

Do you need help with Probate Matters?

You may need help, support or advice on what to do when someone dies in relation to probate.

Freephone: 0808 168 5181

Mobiles: 0333 240 0360

We understand how expensive funerals can be and specialise in providing a valued ser vice for those who want just a simple cremation with no ser vice or attendees.

Since the Covid pandemic families have increasingly chosen our celebration of life at a future date when we will have safely returned or scattered the ashes.

To discuss how we can bring your loved one into our care for a private and respec tful cremation call 0808 169 8454

Our Service is £1 2 95.00 *