Portlaoise hospital provides grief supports to staff, patients and visitors

Portlaoise hospital staged events to provide support in dealing with grief caused by the loss as part of National Grief Awareness Week 2026.

The HSE said the national campaign, which ran from January 27 to February 2, encouraged understanding of grief and highlighted the support and services available to individuals who may benefit from additional help during bereavement.

As part of the week, the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise (MRPH) held an awareness event for staff, patients and visitors on Monday, January 26. The End of Life Care Committee in Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore (MRHT) hosted a similar event on January 30.

Zara Dagg is the End of Life Care Coordinator at Portlaoise and Tullamore hospitals. 

“The aim of the week’s events was to raise awareness among staff and the public about grief. We provided information on the supports available to those who are grieving. Understanding grief and learning how to navigate it can be helpful for those directly experiencing loss, but also for those supporting them. National Grief Awareness Week is a compassionate and important observance dedicated to being grief aware,” she said in a statement issued to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

The HSE says grief is a natural response to the death of someone close. It said there is no set pattern for grief, and people experience it in different ways.

The service adds that common emotional responses include: feeling isolated, lonely, shocked, numb, helpless, angry, irritable, relieved, guilty or sad. Physical reactions may include difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, and poor concentration.

While, family members and friends often want to help but may be unsure how, the HSE says learning more about grief can support both those who are grieving and those who wish to care for them.

The HSE outlined the following tips were offered in dealing with loss and grief. READ below photo:

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• Grief is expressed and felt in different ways.
• There is no right or wrong way to grieve.
• How we experience grief depends on many factors, including coping style, relationship with the deceased and cultural practices.
• There are no stages of grief, it ebbs and flows.
• There is no time limit; grief takes the time it takes.
• Don’t assume people ‘get used’ to loss; grief in older age is still grief.
• You don’t need any special skills to support someone who is grieving.
• A simple gesture can go a long way, such as, meeting someone for a walk, sharing a cup of tea, or offering practical help such as preparing a meal.

For more information on National Grief Awareness Week and online events, visit www.hospicefoundation.ie