TranslateQueen Elizabeth
In a joint statement Sue Musson, Chair, and James Sumner, Chief Executive, of Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:
"All of us at Liverpool University Hospitals are deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Throughout her reign The Queen was the epitome of public service and demonstrated an admirable commitment to duty, particularly at times of national crisis.
“We will remember her unwavering support for the NHS and also the support the Royal Family has shown our Trust. It meant a huge amount when the Duke of Cambridge held a virtual visit with our staff at the height of the pandemic and when His Royal Highness visited Aintree University Hospital to open the Urgent Care and Trauma Centre in 2017.
“While The Queen was a presence in all of our lives and her loss will be felt by many, she was also a mother, grandmother and great grandmother and our heartfelt condolences are with the Royal Family at this time.”
Support
Whether you’re surprised by how sad you are, don't feel much at all, or are mourning your own personal loss, there’s no wrong way to respond to the death of the Queen.
We appreciate that people will have different reactions to this news; some may feel more grief than expected.
Recognise there’s no right or wrong way to grieve
It’s important never to judge oneself as right or wrong in grieving. Many people will say they don’t have the right to feel loss at the death of say a partners loved one, but loss is felt because we have lost the relationship that was important to us.
We have a profound and hugely important capacity to empathise and project emotionally onto people we may never have met, so it’s understandable and very human to feel loss at the death of a national figure.
It may bring up emotions of a personal loss, or that this is a moment in history that you would have liked to have experienced with a loved one no longer here.
Share your emotions
The most important aspect of grieving is sharing the experience with others and that’s why funerals are so important.
With public figures in general and with this one in particular there will be many opportunities to express your loss at public events.
We have a book of condolences available for you in the chaplaincy (see below for further information) and it may be valuable to take some time to reflect on memories you have of the queen or memories with loved ones that you miss.
Conversations with Children:
This is an event that will stay with everyone for the rest of their lives and it is important to acknowledge the impact that this may have on children. This could be their first experience of death and they don’t really understand it or maybe they have been bereaved and this brings up those difficult feelings again.
Everyone will be talking about it and there will be lots of coverage so it can really help to talk to your children about the death of the Queen.
How to talk to children about the death of the Queen | Winston's Wish (winstonswish.org)
Grief Encounter (also has no. dedicated if affected by the death of Her Majesty) Home SUPPORTING BEREAVED CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE - Grief Encounter
Chaplaincy
Books of Condolence
From Monday 12th September until Monday 19th September there will be a Book of Condolence in the Chapels at the Aintree, Royal and Broadgreen sites.
People may leave messages of condolence on the loose-leaf sheets available. These sheets will then be bound together into one Book of Condolence from LUHFT. Guidance about using the books will be available at each site.
Books of Condolence will also be available for staff working at the Walton Centre (in their Chapel) and Woodlands Hospice (in main reception)
If any staff or patients wish to write a message in the Book of Condolence but are unable to attend the Chapels, please contact our Volunteer Service and they will arrange for sheets to be brought to a Ward to be completed and included in the Book of Condolence.
Our Volunteer Teams can be contacted on 0151 706 3170 (Royal and Broadgreen) and 0151 706 3170 (Aintree).
Services across the Trust
Signposting
You may find the following links helpful in offering your support.
- The Government’s website has some advice and support: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/her-majesty-queen-elizabeth-ii
- Cruse Bereavement https://www.cruse.org.uk/ has a national bereavement helpline open for anyone affected by this sad news: 0808 808 1677. They also have an article on Collective Grief: What does it mean to grieve as a community, nation or city and Grief for Her Majesty the Queen
- Bereavement Advice Centre | Free Helpline
- The Compassionate Friends (tcf.org.uk)
- Services - The Laura Centre
- https://www.samaritans.org/. Whatever you are going through, you can call them free anytime on 116 123.
- Our online staff hub contains a plethora of information and support material that you may find useful.
- Staff can access support at our well-being hubs and if they need to access a psychological service this can be done by using the following link out our service: https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/lft-extranet/occupational-health-and-wellbeing/staff-psychology-service/
- individuals with autism may find this time particularly difficult. There is some wonderful information here: Coping with the passing of The Queen (autism.org.uk)
- Grief Encounter (also has no. dedicated if affected by the death of Her Majesty) Home SUPPORTING BEREAVED CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE - Grief Encounter
"Whatever life throws at us, our individual responses will be all the stronger for working together and sharing the load"
Queen Elizabeth II
