Bereavement centre opens at Guy’s Hospital

The new centre is located on the 12th floor of Guy's Tower and offers panoramic views over London.

As well as being carefully designed to take into account visitors' different needs and faiths during what are usually difficult times, the centre has also benefited from a £16,000 grant from Guy's and St Thomas' Charity for a contemporary wall-based artwork. The Friends of Guy's Hospital provided a grant of £13,660 for new furniture in the centre,

As part of its new environment, the bereavement centre offers a private space where people can complete the necessary paperwork and receive any assistance needed following the death of a relative or friend.

Hospital bosses say that this is a significant improvement on the previous centre which was housed in a windowless office near the hospital's post room.

The striking wall-based artwork, which features a collection of ceramics, is intended to enhance the calm environment of the bereavement centre. Designed by renowned artist Marta Marc̩, it is based on the theme of 'transformation' Рin relation to the transformation of energies Рand depicts the flowing sensation of life moving on.

Professor Sir Mike Richards CBE, national clinical director for cancer and end of life care, was invited to open the new centre.

Professor Richards formerly worked as an oncologist at Guy's Hospital and as professor in palliative care at St Thomas' Hospital. He was joined by trust chairman Patricia Moberly, and chief executive of Guy's and St Thomas' Charity Peter Hewitt, as well as members of the bereavement centre and mortuary team and others involved in end of life care.

"I'd like to congratulate the team here and all the other people and organisations who made it possible," said Professor Richards.

Simone Anderson, senior biomedical scientist, research and governance manager, said: "I believe the new bereavement centre demonstrates the trust's commitment to ensuring that bereavement services are delivered in an environment that is sensitive, modern, fit for purpose and most of all, safe and calming for the bereaved to be in."

• The Modernisation Initiative End of Life Care Programme, which is funded by Guy's and St Thomas' Charity, has recently published a video featuring people from Lambeth and Southwark talking about their attitudes to death and dying.