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St Helena Hospice 2022-01-20 Person 4 5 0

Thank you.... I am very appreciative of the support I have received: I'm not very good at asking for help, but knew I needed it; and from someone 'official', qualified and experienced. Lucy's approach to my case was, I felt, very appropriate - digging quite deep into my past experience to help understand and process the way in which I am grieving. My whole world had come crashing down around me following my partner Maurice's death. Lucy helped me deal with the immense loss, the void and sadness; and to find perspective on things like loss of control, guilt and anger. She also helped me to focus on how I want to be emotionally; to make helpful changes in the way I relate to people. I was pleased that it was unlike previous bereavement counselling I had twenty one years ago when my mother died, and where there was minimal input from the counsellor, who seemed to be almost just a 'listening ear'. This time it was conversational, with Lucy asking pertinent questions and making perceptive observations and suggestions. I am very grateful for the help she has given me.

There is only thing which I felt could be more fully addressed - and this might be the case for many in this new world situation. The specific circumstances of losing my partner to Covid, which he caught in Colchester Hospital while waiting to come home following surgery, and the way he and I were dealt with, still loom large. I do not know and have never met anyone else who has lost their nearest and dearest to Covid. People have told me that there are facebook groups: but I do not like or use social media. There may be a case for the Hospice Bereavement Service to set up a support group - preferably face to face as soon as possible, for people like me.