PROFESSIONAL help and advice is on hand for people coping with bereavement.

Mary Kinsella, a qualified nurse and counsellor, has been appointed by Bury Health Care NHS Trust to lead a newly-established bereavement counselling service.

The service will offer short and long term support to relatives and close friends of patients who have died within the hospital.

Miss Kinsella explained: "Loss and change are experiences that we all encounter at some time in our lives. Grief describes the intense feelings encountered when we experience loss. Grieving is a normal process that is often painful and exhausting. For most bereaved people help and support will come from family and friends.

"Some individuals may not have well established support networks. Others may find it more beneficial to talk to someone outside of their normal support channels who can help them work through their grief." Miss Kinsella added: "It is important not to make an assumption that everyone will need the help of a bereavement counsellor. Individuals need to be able to make choices in relation to accessing the care and support that they need."

Staff in the new unit will be offered education and training opportunities to help them to develop their skills to work with dying patients and the bereaved. Loss and bereavement training courses are being developed in conjunction with the Training and Development Department within the Trust. Awareness training sessions are planned to start in the near future.

Miss Kinsella said: "When supporting a relative or friend who has lost someone through death there can often be feelings of helplessness, as we cannot make the situation 'better' for the other person. It can be hard to be with someone who is bereaved, as the feelings that they have are frequently powerful and raw. Often we can help not only with practical things, but also by being able to actively listen and to remain with the other person when they are upset.

"There may also be times when relatives or close friends prefer to access more specialised support for example from voluntary groups that have developed to meet specific needs."

She concluded: "The service is in its infancy and will evolve to meet needs as they are identified."

For more information about the service ring 0161 293 5526.