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New bereavement scheme supports families at toughest time

04 September 2019

ONE of the hardest tasks facing family members following bereavement is having to collect a loved one’s belongings.

But a new initiative instigated by our In Patient Centre Senior Sister Laura Chesters is aiming to make that experience just a little easier to handle.

“We used to give people clear plastic bags for belongings but one day I saw a relative leaving the IPC with one of those bags and I thought it looked so undignified,” Laura explains.

“That’s not what we’re about at St Luke’s and I really didn’t like it, so I decided to look at alternatives.”

The solution eventually agreed on was a special canvas bag, big enough to take away clothing, with a smaller trinket bag for more personal items like rings, watches and jewellery.

The bags have no St Luke’s branding but do feature a discreet floral design that mirrors the St Luke’s annual Celebration of Life daisy concept.

The bags, which are eco-friendly and re-useable, were launched a few weeks ago and have proved instantly successful.

“The team really like them and feel much more comfortable giving them to relatives and loved ones,” Laura says.

“It’s a simple thing that can make a big difference and it also means that if we see somebody carrying one of the bags we know what they are here for can be supportive.”

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