Tips

• Register the death. You will need to make an appointment at your local register office within five days (eight in Scotland). They will produce a death certificate. Buy a few copies, and take a friend or family member with you for moral support.
  
• Use the ‘Tell Us Once’ Service, your Registrar will be able to give you contact information. This service notifies all the relevant government departments. You can also use the Stop Mail service (see contact details below) who will be able to prevent marketing letters arriving for the person who has died.
  
• You may be entitled to bereavement benefits. Visit the government’s website (below) for more information.

• Arrange the funeral. Under the current restrictions enforced by the Government during the Covid-19 outbreak, funerals and cremations may be disrupted or delayed. If you are using a funeral director, they will be able to explain the current rules. In addition, the number of family members permitted to attend a funeral has been limited, and you may be unable to attend if you are in isolation, which can be very distressing. You might like to think of other ways that you can mark your own private goodbye or memorial at home.

• Some people find it helpful to make a list of family/friends who could give practical help or advice, or to accept support already offered. Tackle things at your own pace and in your own time according to what works for you.

For further help, see

• https://www.gov.uk/when-someone-dies
• https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/need-know-info/from-us-to-you/what-to-do-when-someone-dies/
• https://stopmail.co.uk
• https://www.cruse.org.uk/coronavirus/funerals

Leaflet

There are lots of activities happening at our Sydenham site that are open to anyone and everyone. Whether you’re under our care, visiting a friend or relative, or just dropping in for a cuppa; you are welcome to attend any of these activities.
(more…)

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Leaflet

This leaflet contains further information on your medicines and the way that we sometimes use them in palliative care. If you have any more questions please ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. (more…)

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Videos

This audio-visual resource was developed at the request of NHS nurse educators tasked with supporting and integrating newly appointed international nurse recruits.

• Watch video
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKHqOXDgX5c&feature=youtu.be

Guidance

• https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/880274/Admission_and_Care_of_Residents_during_COVID-19_Incident_in_a_Care_Home.pdf

Documents

Advance Care Planning is a process of discussion between an individual and their care provider. Wishes and preferences are documented in an Advance Care Plan booklet which becomes a patient held record. This has been designed to be provided in the hard copy format which you can obtain from St Christopher’s bookshop. Please do not print from the website. Thank you.

Leaflet

This leaflet explains how to consider your choices and preferences for the future – if you have any other questions, we hope you will talk them over with a member of staff who will be glad to help.
(more…)

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Guidance

This framework has been designed to support GPs to have advance care planning conversations
with patients by phone or video, in the context of COVID-19. It is a tool to help you have honest
and open conversations.

• https://compassionindying.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ACP-conversations-via-Phone-or-Video-Call-v1.pdf

Helpline

If you need any advice or support during this time, please call us on 020 8768 4582

publications

An opportunity to better end of life care for older people

Report by Caroline Nicholson and Heather Richardson

“This document is a “call to arms” to the Hospice movement to recognise that there are a large group of people who currently are denied palliative care…This is a very timely publication. The challenge to us all is to reflect and then act to improve care for our frail older patients.”

Dr Eileen Burns
President of the British Geriatric Society, Consultant in Older People’s Medicine

Guidance

Anticipatory prescribing refers to charts and, where appropriate, medications that are left in a person’s usual place of residence for use by visiting clinicians should problems arise with uncontrolled symptoms.

• Patients are most vulnerable to these in the last days of life and when they are no longer able to swallow
• The common ones are pain, nausea and vomiting, distress and agitation and respiratory secretions
• The guidance below covers these.

There has been controversy over the best practice for clinicians to adopt following the widely publicised Gosport Enquiry.

• General, national guidance and policies are currently under development and several members of the clinical team at St Christopher’s are closely involved with this work
• Our current guidance reflects the developing thinking, is subject to regular review and scrutiny and will be modified as further evidence emerges around the best and safest practice to adopt
• Our 24 hour specialist advice and support is there to back up this general guidance to ensure, as far as possible, that clinical decisions are individualised and safe.

DOWNLOAD ANTICIPATORY PRESCRIBING GUIDANCE FOR FRAIL ELDERLY PATIENTS (PDF)
DOWNLOAD ANTICIPATORY PRESCRIBING GUIDANCE FOR ADULTS (PDF)

Bereavement support

• https://www.arc-uk.org/

Join us every Tuesday afternoon on YouTube to explore your creative side and take part in new art activities. This is also an opportunity to participate in ongoing St Christopher’s art projects that will be displayed in the hospice as a way to remember how we spent this time.

All our online sessions are free to join. If you are able to, please consider making a small donation to the hospice to help us continue running these services.

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Videos

Join us for a YouTube art group each Tuesday where we’ll present art activities, along with calls for contributions to large scale St Christopher’s-wide art projects.

• Watch video

Videos

All our online sessions are free to join. If you are able to, please consider a small donation to our emergency appeal.

• Watch video

Videos

Join us to learn how to make an Origami crane at home, or even challenge yourself to complete Senbazuru!

• Watch video

Videos

We’ve all spent a lot of time inside recently, and probably quite a while looking out of the window. In this session we explore what it is that makes a view important to us.

• Watch video

Videos

All you need is a pencil and paper for this activity and you’re ready to go!

• Watch video

Videos

Join us to learn about making art from music: Follow in the footsteps of Kandinsky and listen to your favourite music to find inspiration to make your own artwork.

• Watch video

Videos

This ‘Art for All’ session focuses on light- sunlight to be specific! Learn about Cyanotype art printing and to have a go at making your own art, using shadows as a creative inspiration.

• Watch video

Videos

Sometimes we all need a bit of colour in our lives. Watch how to make the perfect art piece to complement an NHS window rainbow, using materials that everyone has at home. And take part in an activity that encourages us all to look at colour differently within our own homes.

• Watch video

Articles

Nursing Times article advising clinicians not to use the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) when assessing whether people with learning disabilities and other conditions should be admitted to critical care. 

• https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/policies-and-guidance/avoid-frailty-score-in-covid-19-guidance-when-assessing-ld-patients-24-03-2020/

Weblinks and Resource Lists

• http://www.babyloss.com/

Leaflet

Most people will experience bereavement at some time in their life. Everyone reacts to their loss in their own unique way

Grief can be very painful and may give rise to feelings and thoughts that you don’t expect. You may find the information in this leaflet helpful. (more…)

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Bereavement support, Helpline

• 0800 634 9494 (9am-5pm)
• https://www.bereavementadvice.org/

The Creating Conversations project aims to break down the silence around death and give each of us a voice, where open conversations are welcome in normalising dying, death and grief. After two years of meeting face to face, we have a new home in keeping with government directives on safe distancing because of Covid-19.

(more…)

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Bereavement support

• https://rowlandbrothers.com/arranging-a-funeral/bereavement-support/

Bereavement support

• https://www.brake.org.uk/

Leaflet

This leaflet will provide you with basic advice to help you manage your breathlessness. It is intended to act as a reminder following a physiotherapy session – please ask if you have any questions. (more…)

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Bereavement support, Helpline

• 0208 768 4599
• https://www.stchristophers.org.uk/bromley-bereavement-service

Leaflet

Helping you to get the right care, in the right place, at the right time

Who we are

Our friendly team of clinical nurse specialists, staff nurses and healthcare assistants are on hand to support people living in Bromley with advanced illness and frailty enabling them to remain at home and live well.

(more…)

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Leaflet

Who we are

Bromley Care Coordination (BCC) is provided by our expert team at St Christopher’s and commissioned by Bromley Clinical Comissioning Group. The service enables patients with advanced illness, multi-morbidities and frailty to receive timely and coordinated care in the community.

(more…)

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Calling everyone with a taste for adventure, Bungee Jumping is an activity that the vast majority of people are capable of undertaking. You can bungee jump for St Christopher’s at anytime throughout the year.

We ask that you pay £75 registration fee to cover the cost of your jump, then raise £150 sponsorship to which will go directly to supporting the work of St Christopher’s.

Please visit the UK Bungee Club website to book yours today or call UK Bungee on 0845 319 5767 for group bookings. Don’t forget to let us know you are jumping for St Christopher’s so we can support you with fundraising tips, ideas, and a t-shirt to wear on the day!

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Bereavement support, Helpline

• 0208 768 4500
• https://www.stchristophers.org.uk/candle

Leaflet

Parents and carers want to do the best for their children, and it is very hard to know what is best for them when a death has happened. You are trying to come to terms with what has happened, cope with painful and difficult feelings, and there are so many decisions and choices to be made.

This leaflet has been written to help you think about your children and the funeral, why they should have the chance to go, and how to answer some of their questions.

(more…)

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Leaflet

St Christopher’s has been providing bereavement counselling to patients’ families for over 50 years. St Christopher’s Candle Child Bereavement Service extends this support to all children, young people and their families in the south east London area, covering the boroughs of Croydon, Bromley, Lewisham, Southwark and Lambeth. Any parent, carer, teacher or healthcare professional can make a referral to the Candle Child Bereavement Service. Young people aged over 16 can refer themselves.

We also offer a specialist training, advice and consultancy service to schools and other agencies working with children facing bereavement.

(more…)

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Leaflet

How to help your bereaved child

You may be bereaved yourself, and may be finding it hard to keep your child’s needs in mind with all that is happening.The following points are a guide to help you focus on what is going on for them. (more…)

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Leaflet

How to help a bereaved young person – a guide for adults

Every year many young people experience the death of someone they are close to. Some of these deaths will be sudden and some will be after a long illness, but all losses can be difficult for teenagers. This leaflet is designed to help you understand some of the aspects of a death that are hard for young people and to give some ideas about how you can offer support. (more…)

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Leaflet

Helping your child

Everyone is very shocked when someone dies suddenly. There has been no time to prepare and often no warning that the person was going to die. Shock affects adults and children physically and emotionally, and some of the effects you may notice are feeling dizzy or sick, shaky, shivery, hot and cold. After a shock we often feel very unsafe for a while, and need to take things quietly. This leaflet mentions some of the things you and your child may be feeling. (more…)

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Bereavement support

• https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/family-life/bereavement-support/widowed-young-support

Join us every Wednesday afternoon on Zoom to chat with other carers, build relationships and share your stories.

All our online sessions are free to join. If you are able to, please consider making a small donation to the hospice to help us continue running these services.

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Leaflet

This leaflet has been compiled by nurses from the Care Home Project Team at St Christopher’s in collaboration with nurses from dementia care units to help support relatives of people with advanced dementia living and dying in care homes. (more…)

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Guidance

This guidance is produced to help support people who are caring for someone who is dying at home from COVID-19 infection

• https://www.hospiceuk.org/docs/default-source/echo/covid-19-echo/covid-19_care-at-home_guide_final.pdf

Bereavement support, Helpline

• 0800 028 8840
• https://www.childbereavementuk.org/

Bereavement support, Helpline

• 0800 282 986 or 0808 800 6019
• http://childdeathhelpline.org.uk/

Bereavement support, Helpline

For under 25yrs and their relatives

• 0800 1111 (24 hour support line)
• https://www.childline.org.uk/

Guidance

NHS Clinical Guide for Management of Palliative Care in Hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic

• https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/C0081-Speciality-guide-Palliative-care-and-coronavirus-FINAL-02.04.20.pdf

Leaflet

This leaflet gives you information on Clostridium difficile (C.diff) and how St Christopher’s is working to control it. (more…)

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Leaflet

You have been referred to the cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) clinic here at St Christopher’s Hospice either because you have asked for some help or because a member of the team has suggested that you come. This leaflet aims to answer some of the more common questions about CBT and help you understand a little more about what to expect. (more…)

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Leaflet

This leaflet explains what you can expect as an inpatient at St Christopher’s. We hope to answer your concerns by concentrating on the most commonly asked questions. If you have any more
questions please ask your doctor or nurse.
(more…)

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Guidance

A guide to end of life care symptom control when a person is dying from Covid-19 for General Practice Teams, prepared by the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Association for Palliative Medicine.

• https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/pluginfile.php/149457/mod_page/content/22/COVID%20Community%20symptom%20control%20and%20end%20of%20life%20care%20for%20General%20Practice%20FINAL%20v2.docx.pdf

Leaflet

This leaflet explains about complementary therapies available at St Christopher’s and Harris HospisCare – if you have any other questions, we hope you will talk them over with a member of staff who will be glad to help. If you are thinking of using another complementary therapy service, please ask us for further information. (more…)

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Helpline

We have had several requests from Care Homes asking if we can offer support to individual staff. This is why we have created a new staff support service called Hear For You.

What is Hear For You?

Hear For You offers confidential telephone and email support to all care home staff. It is provided by experienced staff and counsellors here at St Christopher’s. Think of this as a ‘check in’ service to support your wellbeing. You may want to talk about a difficult moment at work, worries about your family or friends or simply offload for a few minutes. Whatever you need we’ll do our best to support you – your emotional wellbeing is very important to us.

How do I access support?

Simply email us at hearforyou@stchristophers.org.uk or call us on 020 8768 4688. Let us know which CCG you work in, and where possible the care home you work for. This will remain completely confidential. We will be available between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. If you want to book in a call outside of these times simply email us and we’ll do our best to fit this in for you.

Is this support confidential?

Please rest assured that everything you share will remain confidential unless we have a concern that falls within our safeguarding protocol.

Leaflet

1 What does consent really mean?

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your permission or ‘consent’ to do so.
(more…)

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Leaflet

Why do I need to supported with care using ‘contact precautions’?

If you are being cared for in this way, it may be because you are infected with a micro-organism that can be passed to other people, or because you have symptoms of a contagious disease. For example, you might have a rash that could mean you have chicken pox or shingles, or, if you have diarrhoea and vomiting this could mean you have a gastrointestinal infection. If any of this applies to you, we will explain the reasons for needing to use these extra precautions. (more…)

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Documents

Documents

Documents

Guidance

Coordinate My Care is an innovative NHS service that builds medical care around the wishes of each patient. You create the plan with your GP: then we share it with all the healthcare professionals who might treat you. So everyone looking after you knows exactly what you want.

• https://www.coordinatemycare.co.uk/

Guidance

Quick Reference Guide to CMC Urgent Care Plans

• https://coordinatemycare.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/cmc-quick-reference-guide.pdf

Bereavement support

• https://www.which.co.uk/later-life-care/end-of-life/coping-with-bereavement

Leaflet

This leaflet describes some of the physical changes that happen to people as they start to die. It anticipates some of the questions you may want to ask about what is happening and why, and encourages you to ask for further help or information if there is anything at all that is worrying you.
(more…)

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Leaflet

1 Coping with feelings of depression

There is no right or wrong way to feel when you or someone close to you has a terminal illness. You may experience a range of emotions, at different times. You may feel shock, fear, anger and resentment. Or you may feel helpless, sad, frustrated or perhaps experience relief and acceptance. You may also feel isolated and alone, even if you have family and friends around you.
(more…)

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Weblinks and Resource Lists

Marie Curie’s advice on understanding COVID-19 if you’re affected by a terminal illness

• https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/coronavirus

Weblinks and Resource Lists

Marie Curie’s advice on understanding covid-19 if you’re affected by a terminal illness

• https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/coronavirus

Guidance

Marie Curie’s advice on understanding Covid-19 if you’re affected by a terminal illness:

• https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/coronavirus

Guidance

Guidance for health and social care staff who are caring for, or treating, a person who lacks the relevant mental capacity.

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-looking-after-people-who-lack-mental-capacity

Virtual learning

This programme is freely available to colleagues working in the NHS, independent sector and social care.

• https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/coronavirus/

Weblinks and Resource Lists

The Royal College of GP’s coronavirus resource hub which includes a palliative care section

• https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=10537

Weblinks and Resource Lists

Learning Disability Wales guidance resources for Covid-19 

• https://www.ldw.org.uk/project/coronavirus/https://www.ldw.org.uk/project/coronavirus/

Bereavement support

• https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/

Weblinks and Resource Lists

Carers in Southampton, Covid 19 learning disability resources

• https://www.carersinsouthampton.co.uk/covid-19-learning-disability-resources

Guidance

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Covid 19 Guidance on supporting staff who are self-isolating, communicating with patients, remote working and reviewing and stopping critical care treatment 

• https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng159

Community palliative, end of life and bereavement care in the Covid-19 pandemic

A guide to end of life care symptom control when a person is dying from Covid-19 for General Practice Teams, prepared by the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Association for Palliative Medicine.

• https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/pluginfile.php/149457/mod_page/content/22/COVID%20Community%20symptom%20control%20and%20end%20of%20life%20care%20for%20General%20Practice%20FINAL%20v2.docx.pdf

Guidance

Royal College of Psychiatrists, Community and inpatient services – COVID-19 guidance for clinicians

• https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/about-us/responding-to-covid-19/responding-to-covid-19-guidance-for-clinicians/community-and-inpatient-services-covid-19-guidance-for-clinicians

Guidance

• https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/880094/PHE_11651_COVID-19_How_to_work_safely_in_care_homes.pdf

Guidance

Join this relaxed Zoom group to learn new art skills, meet other art group members, have a chat and hear about opportunities to get involved in St Christopher’s art projects.

All our online sessions are free to join. If you are able to, please consider making a small donation to the hospice to help us continue running these services.

• View event information

The Creating Conversations project aims to break down the silence around death and give each of us a voice, where open conversations are welcome in normalising dying, death and grief. After two years of meeting face to face, we have a new home in keeping with government directives on safe distancing.

In both these Creating Conversations Cafés, Carol Trower, Project Lead for Creating Conversations, will be speaking about how care is coordinated at the end of life. This will be followed by friendly discussions and a chance to think about what this means for you.

Most people have questions and worries, so do join us for this informative session where your questions can be heard and answered. We welcome all who live in our catchment areas of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bromley and Croydon.

On Tuesday 12 May, 11am-12pm, join the Zoom meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81770228174

On Thursday 14 May, 2.30-3.30pm, join the Zoom meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87812062196

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Join us for our online creative writing group to explore your creative side through words. In this group you can try creative writing activities designed to get your imagination going and to combat writer’s block.

We’ll also facilitate poetry writing activities and provide a space to share writing projects with others. At the end of the lockdown we hope to create a zine of our creative work, recording our reactions to this time.

All our online sessions are free to join. If you are able to, please consider making a small donation to the hospice to help us continue running these services.

• View event information

Bereavement support, Helpline

Cruse provides support services for people across the UK who have been bereaved. The helpline offers listening support and practical advice related to bereavement, including dealing with an estate, debt and arranging a funeral.

• 0808 808 1677
• https://www.cruse.org.uk/

The Creating Conversations project aims to break down the silence around death and give each of us a voice, where open conversations are welcome in normalising dying, death and grief. After two years of meeting face to face, we have a new home in keeping with government directives on safe distancing because of Covid-19.

The Death Café is a space for people of any background, religion, culture or belief to meet together in a non-judgmental environment to discuss death, dying and bereavement. Bring your questions and concerns –we are here to listen and respond as together we appreciate our finite lives.

Attendance priority is given to people living in St Christopher’s catchment area (Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark).

Please contact Carol Trower at c.trower@stchristophers.org.uk to confirm your place.

Please join the Zoom meeting on: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7048734172

• View event information

Leaflet

Introduction

Lots of people have a problem with sleeping at some time during their lives. If you are ill, sleep can be hard because of anxiety, worry about treatment, fears about the future, or just because you are going through a stressful time in your life. (more…)

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Leaflet

This leaflet is intended for general guidance only and we suggest that you obtain proper legal advice if you are in doubt about the meaning of anything. Some of the legal terms used in this leaflet are explained below. (more…)

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Leaflet

This leaflet aims to answer frequently asked questions about appetite, weight loss and the need for fluids or artificial hydration (fluid intake given by a drip) if you, or the person you are caring for, become very ill. (more…)

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