Case study:

11 May 2010

Cancer Network Guidelines for Bereavement Care in Greater Manchester & Cheshire

Key points

The Greater Manchester & Cheshire Network has produced new guidelines for bereavement care, which have been distributed to chief executives of all hospices, PCTs and acute trusts in the area.

The guidelines were produced by the network’s end of life sub-group and reflect NICE guidance on palliative care as well as the principles and guidance for bereavement services published by the Department of Health in 2005.

They propose, among other things, that all hospices and trusts identify senior managerial leads for bereavement services and work across geographical boundaries to develop high quality, co-ordinated bereavement support.

Although services remain unfunded, the guidelines have had an impact.

After copies were sent to all chief executives, bereavement is now on the agenda of local strategy groups and has been included in PCT local delivery plans.

The network group is due to reconvene shortly to revise the guidelines.