Contacts
Contact:
Carrie Bruce
Bereavement Service ManagerBereavement Department
Organisation:
Sir Michael Sobell House
Churchill Hospital Old Road Headington Oxford OX3 7LJ United Kingdom
Tel:
01865 225860
01865 225878 (direct)
Email:
Case study:
11 May 2010
Bereavement Service at Sir Michael Sobell House
Key points
- Sir Michael Sobell House offers structured support and advice to family members and carers after a patient dies
- Those assessed to be at high risk are offered help within 10 weeks. All are contacted within six months
- The service runs regular bereavement support groups throughout the year as well as holding memorial teas three times a year
- The service has been running for 20 years.
For the last 20 years Sir Michael Sobell House in Oxford has provided a bereavement service that offers support to family members and carers following the death of a patient who has been in the organisation’s care.
Information about the service is passed on to relatives and carers at the time of death.
A vulnerability assessment is made and those at high risk will be sent a letter of introduction followed by a phone call six to 10 weeks after the patient’s death.
All other individuals are contacted and offered support by letter after six months.
Self-referrals are picked up at any time.
The organisation also runs an average of three bereavement support groups a year and offers family members and carers the chance to return to Sobell House for a memorial tea.
These events take place three times a year.
The bereavement team consists of one full-time manager, one part-time bereavement co-ordinator, an administrator and administrative assistant.
There are also 28 trained bereavement volunteers who provide between 12-16 hours’ support each month.
Funding comes from Section 64 money that is paid through the PCT.
The service is continually being evaluated and every client is sent an evaluation form after they have finished using the service.
The team also contributes to relevant research.
The service also maintains regular communication with other bereavement services.
A new cancer centre is due to open at the Churchill Hospital in the near future and the team will explore the impact of this on the bereavement service.
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