The department provides psychosocial support to St Luke's service users. Patients and those close to them sometimes need additional practical and emotional support to help them find a way forward together during what is often a very stressful time.
When someone has a life threatening illness, relationships may come under pressure. Support from outside the family can sometimes be beneficial to help everyone adjust to their new and changing situation. Patients, families and carers often need the opportunity to express and discuss their feelings, either individually or together.
Many families find that their income is reduced when someone is seriously ill and they may need practical help, information and advice.
Services we offer include
- Emotional support (including life story work)
- Support and information relating to issues including: housing, benefits, discharge and care packages.
- Liaising with other agencies and/or organisations
- Assessment of need for those who are particularly vulnerable, for example children, young people and those with special needs.
Bereavement service
Following a bereavement it can be difficult to express your thoughts and feelings, especially to friends and family. However, sharing these emotions can be helpful.
St Luke's Hospice Bereavement Support Team includes staff and trained volunteers who offer confidential, individual and group support with the emotional issues associated with bereavement. This free service is currently offered to family and friends of people who were known to the hospice.
A member of the Bereavement Support Team contacts the family up to eight weeks after the bereavement either by telephone or letter. Should any member of the family wish to make use of the service they will be allocated a visitor who will be able to meet with them either at the hospice or in their own home. Individual support sessions last approximately one hour, with continued contact for a period of up to fourteen months, if required.
Celebration of Life/Remembrance events
St Luke's Bereavement Service organises regular Celebration of Life/Remembrance events, which take place in the hospice. The names of all those who have died are recorded in our Book of Remembrance, which can be viewed at the event.
If you wish to access the service before you have heard from the Bereavement Support Team, or if you require further information about the service, the Celebration of Life event or the Book of Remembrance, you can contact:
Tina Morgan, Bereavement Service Co-ordinator, telephone 020 8382 8009 or
Patricia McCrossan, Family Support Services Manager/Senior Social Worker, telephone 020 8382 8017
If no one is available to take your call, please leave a brief message and one of the team will get back to you as soon as they can.
