Are we getting it right? Parents' perceptions of hospice child bereavement support services.
OBJECTIVE
To determine parents' experiences and perceptions of a support service for families with bereaved children, provided by a UK charity for cancer patients in seven hospices in the UK.


METHODS
Individual interviews with 25 purposively selected parents.


RESULTS
Parents used the service for: advice and reassurance; support for their children while they grieved; and advice on ameliorating behavioural difficulties at home and school. Non-service users did not think formalised support was necessary or had other sufficient support. Nevertheless, important to parents in both groups was that the service existed so their children's needs were being or could be addressed. Children and their parents benefited from talking to a non-family member, and being involved in social events that reduced feelings of isolation.


CONCLUSIONS
The hospice child bereavement service was offered as an integral part of palliative cancer care support. Future research could explore collaborative work between counsellors and other professionals.
Wilkinson
S
S
Department of Mental Health Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London, London. susie.wilkinson@medsch.ucl.ac.uk
Croy
P
P
King
M
M
Barnes
J
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D001601:Bereavement; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology