What we do
The Bereavement Care Service Team offers support to the relatives and friends of people who have died in hospital. We wish to offer our sincere sympathy to you, your family and friends in your bereavement.
Bereavement is a time of grief and sorrow – this is a natural and normal part of your loss. It is also unfortunately a period during which a number of matters must be dealt with. All of this can prove bewildering and stressful and we hope this information will help and assist you during this difficult time.
It may be possible to view your relative before they leave the ward. However, after this we would encourage you to wait until they are at the funeral directors. We can arrange a viewing at the hospital in certain circumstances.
The Bereavement Care Services staff can give you help and information and arrange for you to see the doctor who was looking after your relative to help answer any questions you may have.
For help with Registrars Services, such as the issuing of medical cause of death certificates and on-site registration of death then you can contact the General Office.
Adults: You can view our bereavement booklet.
Maternity: Information booklet to help you following the loss of your baby
Where to find us
Our service can be accessed at the following locations:
Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital
When you enter the main entrance, turn right.
Go up the stairs (or the lift) just past the parking office on the right-hand side.
Go through the door in-front of the lifts at the top of the stairs and the Bereavement Service is down the corridor on your right-hand side.
Burnley General Teaching Hospital
When you enter Area 7 (where the bus-stop is), there is a reception desk on the right hand side.
Our General Office is situated behind this reception desk.
Service Lead
Erin Bolton - Bereavement Care Co-Ordinator
Key staff
We have a number of 'Bereavement Champions' based out on the wards that are there to assist. Please ask on the relevant ward for more information.
General enquiries
For any general enquiries or advice about our service please telephone:
Burnley - 01282 804502
Blackburn - 01254 734500
Opening times
Monday – Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm
Learning from deaths
East Lancashire Teaching Hospitals is committed to improving the quality of our services. We have a commitment to review and learn from in-patient deaths and have specific criteria to guide this work. More detail of this can be found in our “Learning from Deaths” policy. One of the criterion for review is where family raise concerns that the care and treatment provided contributed to an in-patient’s death. If you have this concern, please make the Bereavement team in general office aware.
