A memorial service for renal patients

This article describes how nurses on a renal unit offered support to bereaved relatives by organising a memorial service for relatives of patients who had died over the previous 12 months. The structure of the service came from a variety of remembrance services and consisted of verses, poems, words of comfort, a minutes silence and a roll call of the names of all the patients who had died, commemorated by the lighting of a candle. Memorial services can function as a way of saying goodbye and also acknowledge the reality of the loss for both staff and relatives (1). A remembrance service was an ideal opportunity to provide support and comfort to bereaved relatives, reinforcing the idea that patients, relatives and friends are valued by those who care for them. The service proved to be very successful, with positive feedback from both relatives and staff. An annual memorial service is planned for the future.