Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – period of mourning
September 16, 2022
Along with all other NHS organisations we are currently observing a national period of mourning. During the mourning period, our regular communications will be limited to essential information for staff and patients as a sign of respect – this includes the pausing of external events and celebrations. Our services should continue with minimal disruption to ensure patient care continues. If you have a query about an activity you are running please contact swbh.comms@nhs.net.
The State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will take place on Monday 19 September.
There will be national moments of reflection as follows:
- Sunday 18 September – 8pm for one minute
- Monday 19 September – 11:55am for two minutes
Colleagues who are working during this period are encouraged to observe these moments of reflection in your workplace, allowing patients and other colleagues to participate where it is safe and practical to do so.
While many will be marking the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II privately, for those who wish to come together at this time we have made arrangements for the State Funeral to be shown in the Conference Room at Sandwell Education Centre and the Dining Room at the Post Graduate Centre. The buildings will be open to staff from 10.30am.
Where there are bedside patient entertainment screens, we understand that these will become free to use from Sunday 18 September through to Monday 19 September to allow patients to pay their respects.
Trust devices that are not being used for patient care, can be used to access the State Funeral online.
The State Funeral will also be shown on large screens at
- Centenary Square, Birmingham and
- Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich
Monday 19 September: Trust arrangements
In light of the nationally announced public holiday for 19 September, the date of the State Funeral for Queen Elizabeth II, the Trust is mindful that patients and many staff will want the opportunity to pay their respects.
This means that we have rescheduled planned, non-urgent primary care appointments, outpatient appointments and planned procedures. We will be maintaining the services we would normally be running on a bank holiday that includes our inpatient wards and all urgent and emergency care services including emergency theatre lists. We are also aiming to continue with planned cancer procedures for those on a two week wait (2ww) pathway providing we have safe staffing in place.
Staff who are scheduled to work on Monday 19 September, whose services are still operational, should continue to work and normal bank holiday rules will apply. Colleagues have worked through bank holiday rotas to ensure safe services including on call arrangements. Staff whose services will not be operational on Monday 19 September are not required to work on that day.
Book of condolences and chaplaincy support
Our chaplaincy team have made two books of condolences available for colleagues to sign at the chapels at City and Sandwell. The books will move to Leasowes and Rowley on Thursday (15 September). Colleagues are warmly invited to contribute to these. An online book of condolences is also available at https://www.royal.uk/
In the video below, Mary Causer, Lead Chaplain talks about how colleagues can leave a message of condolence should they wish to do so.
The chaplaincy team are also available for a chat and you are welcome to light a candle in any of our chapels.
- City chapel can be reached on ext.4055 and Sandwell chapel can be contacted on ext. 3552.
- City Chapel/Prayer Room is located opposite Ward D20 & D11
- Sandwell Chapel/Prayer Room is located on 2nd floor.
Support for colleagues
The chaplaincy team are available for a chat and you are welcome to light a candle in any of our chapels.
- City chapel can be reached on ext.4055 and Sandwell chapel can be contacted on ext. 3552.
- City Chapel/Prayer Room is located opposite Ward D20 & D11
- Sandwell Chapel/Prayer Room is located on 2nd floor.
As well as support provided by our chaplaincy team, at this time of national grief, we would like to remind you of the support available to colleagues if you would like to talk to someone in confidence. You can contact occupational health on 0121 507 3306 option 4 and the team will make arrangements for a confidential chat.
Additional support is also available via the Black Country and West Birmingham mental health and wellbeing hub. You can access support by visiting the BCHFT website. Alternatively, you can email bchft.hub@nhs.net or call 0121 8031444
Laying flowers
For those colleagues who wish to lay flowers you can do so at Sandwell Council House or Birmingham Cathedral.