Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to improve access to bereavement care and support; and if he will make a statement.

The Government’s response to the independent review of choice in end of life care (July 2016) made clear that high quality bereavement care is a key component of good end of life care, supporting families and loved ones at this very difficult time in their lives. For this reason, a number of resources have been developed to help improve bereavement support and end of life care.

The funding and delivery of National Health Service bereavement services is a matter for local commissioners.

Providing better information and support to people bereaved by suicide is a key area for action in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Under the NHS Long Term Plan, all areas in England will have suicide bereavement services providing timely and appropriate support to families and staff by 2023/24.