AtaLoss and NHS partnership announced

AtaLoss, together with NHS Frimley Integrated Care System (ICS), are delighted to announce a new signposting partnership. This vital collaboration will support those living in, Slough, Bracknell Forest, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Surrey Heath, North East Hampshire and Farnham to access a wide range of support themselves and receive effective and timely bereavement signposting.  

AtaLoss has been championing the need for central signposting to bereavement support since 2017. Research has shown that most people do not find the support they need when they are bereaved. Many organisations attempt to provide information, but this is usually a limited choice with services which are often oversubscribed. Multiple signposting causes confusion to bereaved people as well as professionals, and means people aren't aware of all the fantastic support services that are available - especially the smaller, community based services AtaLoss are keen to find and list on their website. These can often be life changers. Without access to the full range, many people end up giving up their search or sit on a long waiting list, often at risk of developing longer term health problems.

Speaking of the importance of signposting, AtaLoss’ CEO, Yvonne Tulloch said: 

Ensuring bereaved people and professionals in all sectors know where to find support by having a single, national signposting resource should be an easy challenge to overcome, yet valuable resources are being wasted duplicating limited lists and creating confusion. Good signposting is more than offering even what we provide. It requires commitment from everyone to work together to ensure all information that may be needed is in one central place, coupled with universal routine referral, so that timely support is accessed whenever it is needed. We’re thrilled that NHS Frimley Integrated Care System has chosen to collaborate with us in this way. It moves us nearer to our goal; together we’re preventing problems from escalating.” 

Jane Woodward, AtaLoss’ Executive Director of External Relationships added: 

We have been approaching health organisations and local authorities with the offer to provide their signposting service for free rather than them duplicating what we have already done. We hope many more health organisations will follow Frimley’s lead. We provide an extensive, dedicated and regularly updated service. Us providing the bereavement signposting means health organisations can use their precious resources on doing what they do best. It really is a win-win and makes a lot of sense! 

Speaking about why NHS Frimley ICS decided to partner with AtaLoss Jo Greengrass, Frimley’s Essential Standards of Care Quality and Improvement Lead, Joint Chair of the ICS Palliative and End of Life Care Board, said: 

We are totally committed to ensuring that bereaved residents in our area get the support they need. Bereavement can impact on many areas of life, including physical and mental health, so it’s important we signpost people to a comprehensive website of valuable resources and opportunities for support. Working in partnership with AtaLoss has made sense, as they are able to provide this website for our local community and can continually review local resources available. We would like to thank AtaLoss for the opportunity to work with them in this partnership. You can also find further information on palliative end of life care and bereavement on the Frimley Health and Care website.

If your organisation is keen to provide better signposting to bereavement support for beneficiaries or employees, and is interested in finding out more about Signposting Partnership with AtaLoss, please email the

 External Partnership Team.