Increasing pressure on our Counselling and Bereavement Services

Mel, pictued (left) with Sandra.

Receiving a terminal diagnosis or grieving the loss of a loved one is among the most heart-wrenching experiences life can bring. As Cecily Saunders, the pioneer of modern hospice care, advocated, this period demands holistic and compassionate care, addressing not only the physical, but also the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families.

Our professionally trained team of Counsellors and Pastoral Care Workers provide just this. Emotional and psychological support is fundamental to helping patients come to terms with their diagnosis, as well as supporting their loved ones to navigate their grief journey and ease the long-term impact of loss, promoting resilience and emotional wellbeing.

Mel Lovegrove, Counselling Team Leader, says,“We can’t make it go away, but we can improve quality of life and how to develop coping mechanisms.”

Yet, the volume of need, available resources and limited funding streams is putting our Counselling, Pastoral, Bereavement Service under significant and escalating pressure with our waiting lists continuing to grow each week.

Mel continues, “As the pressures of modern life increase, the demand for psychological wellbeing services is taking on a new importance. This, alongside a struggling NHS service, is resulting in pressure on other providers. We’ve seen some services local to Thames Hospice close their waiting lists because they are so oversubscribed. This is having a huge impact on the demand for our services, leading to the highest waiting times we have ever encountered. “We remain committed to our purpose of supporting our clients during the most distressing times in their lives, and continue to look for ways and funding to achieve this, with the demand we now face.”