Bereavement Service

If you have suffered a bereavement in our hospital, we would like to offer our sincere condolences for your loss. Experiencing the loss of someone dear to you, whether it be expected or sudden, is always devastating. There is no 'normal' way to experience grief.

We have a dedicated Bereavement Service who can provide support and advice to the families, loved ones and carers when someone passes away while in our hospital. 

We are here to listen to your experiences, and if you have any questions or concerns about the care provided to your loved one while under the care of our hospital, then the Bereavement Service can liaise with clinical teams to answer your questions, whether this be a written response or a meeting with key members of the team who cared for your loved one.

We can share any comments, thanks or compliments you may have for our wards or about a specific member of staff who looked after your loved one. 

Although the Bereavement Service is not able to offer Bereavement Counselling, we can provide you with details of external services and charities who can offer specialised support, if you are struggling with your loss. If you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, contact your GP immediately, phone 999, or contact a crisis support charity such as Samaritans and Mind.

The first step following the death of your loved one is to contact the Medical Examiner's Officer at Kettering General Hospital. You can find guidance on the Medical Examiner's Officer page of our website 

 

Mortuary 

We understand families want to say goodbye to their loved one as part of the grieving process, sometimes as soon after death as possible.

The ward can arrange this top occur immediately after your loved one has died. If you are unable to attend to the ward, you may be able to view your loved one at the County Mortuary, or at your chosen Funeral Directors.

Viewings at the County Mortuary are by appointment only and are 30 minutes long. More details about the County Mortuary can be found on West Northamptonshire website.