Emotional Support
Support is offered to patients, relatives, friends and carers on an on-going basis. If you feel this would be of benefit, you and your loved ones can be supported either individually or as part of a group of others who find themselves in the same position.
Breast Friends
This group is for anyone who currently has or has had breast cancer. It is a chance to meet with others in a similar situation. Here you will have the opportunity to talk and to listen, make new friends, find support and receive encouragement. For further details contact the Counselling Department by calling 020 8320 5711 or email counselling@gbch.org.uk
Spouses/Partners Group
Spouses or partners may find a group support setting to be of help to them following bereavement. Here you will meet people for support and friendship who are in the similar position to yourself. The group provides you with the opportunity to explore your situation and acquire the skills to face the future. Particular groups are organized in response to need.
If this is not for you, you may find 1-1 counselling to be more of benefit. During this time you will have the opportunity to offload your feelings and help to make day to day living easier. It is sometimes more comfortable to talk to someone outside of your own circle of family and friends. Often it helps not to have to go through things on your own but to be able to share memories, good or bad, with someone who is able to listen without being emotionally involved.
Click here to download a copy of our leaflet "Supporting you in Bereavement" which you may find useful at this difficult time.
Support for Children
Although we are not a specialist service for children, we will work with children and young people if we feel we can help them come to terms with their loss. If not we will offer advice and refer them to other services that will be better suited to address the child’s needs.
Support for Carers
As well as our general support for carers, we have a Volunteer Befriending Service for carers of people with advanced disease who live in Greenwich borough.
Click here to download a copy of our "Information for Carers" leaflet which you may find useful.
Benefits and Welfare Advice
Our social worker provides emotional support and counselling to patients and their families, including children, in the Hospice, within the community and at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich. Our social worker can also give advice on welfare benefits, housing issues, social services support and carers’ issues.
This service can be accessed by calling 020 8320 5784 or emailcounselling@gbch.org.uk