Views sought on experience of bereavement

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) are urging people who have experienced bereavement, whether the death was expected or sudden and in any care setting or at home, to share their story through the 10,000 More Voices programme to help shape how care is delivered in Northern Ireland.

10,000 More Voices is a PHA initiative which gives people an opportunity to provide feedback on their experiences of accessing Health and Social Care services by asking them to ‘tell us their story’. The information received helps to highlight areas that require additional focus for improvement.  

Mary Hinds, Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professions at the PHA, said: “10,000 More Voices aims to involve the public in shaping future healthcare services across Northern Ireland. The initiative acknowledges that patient and client contribution is fundamental to ensuring that services are commissioned to deliver better outcomes for patients, their families and carers.

“We want people to tell us about their experiences of health and social care and to highlight the things that were important to them. The information we receive will help us to direct how health and social care is shaped and delivered in Northern Ireland.”

The 10,000 Voices team are working in partnership with the HSC Bereavement Network to carry out the Experience of Bereavement Survey.

Heather Russell, Project Lead and Bereavement Coordinator for the Belfast Trust, explains: “We want to invite families, carers and staff all over Northern Ireland to share their experiences of bereavement so that we can better understand the impact of care delivered by health and social care staff at this time. Sharing your experience will help us to determine whether our care before, at the time off and after death is as supportive, safe and compassionate as it needs to be.”

If you have been bereaved or have provided care to bereaved relatives then 10,000 More Voices would like to hear your story.

You can tell your story by logging on to www.10000morevoices.hscni.net and selecting the ‘Bereavement Experience Survey’. If you would like a paper version of the survey, more information or any help or support to take part, please call one of the HSC Trust Bereavement Coordinators: