Coronavirus: Bereavement Counselling
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing bereavement support for the families of people who died from covid-19.
Government answer
Since March 2020, the Government has allocated more than £10.2 million to mental health charities, including bereavement support charities, to support adults and children experiencing poor mental health due to the impact of COVID-19. The Government continues to assess the provision of services to support bereaved families, friends and loved ones.
The impact on the mental health and wellbeing of the bereaved, including post-bereavement support will be assessed during the United Kingdom’s COVID-19 Inquiry.
Through the Health and Care Act 2022, NHS England have developed guidance to support integrated care boards with the duty to commission palliative care services within integrated care systems. This guidance states commissioners should ensure there is sufficient access to bereavement services.