National Day of reflection on March 23rd

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (FT) is supporting a national day of reflection on 23 March to remember people who have died during the pandemic, and all those who have been bereaved

The ‘National Day of Reflection’ is led by end-of-life charity Marie Curie and takes place on Tuesday 23 March – the anniversary of the UK going into the first national lockdown. Marie Curie estimates that over three million people have been bereaved since the pandemic began, yet many have been unable to properly say goodbye to loved ones or grieve.

A minute’s silence will be held by Somerset County Council to mark a National Day of Reflection, remembering those who sadly lost their lives during the pandemic and to show support for everyone who has been bereaved.

The Chair of Somerset County Council, Cllr Nigel Taylor, is inviting staff to hold the minute’s silence at noon, to remember and reflect on the last year which has touched us all, encouraging everyone to find a moment to reflect on the last year in their own way.

Councillor Taylor said: “Covid-19 has affected everyone’s lives over the last year, and sadly many of us have lost friends, neighbours and family before their time. On the anniversary of the first lockdown, it is a time for us to pause, reflect and remember. A time for us to support our friends, families and local communities and a time to help local grieving families. Let us all reflect on the events of the last year and send the hope of better times.”

The flag at County Hall will also fly at half-mast as a sign of respect for all those taken before their time by Covid-19 and for the bereaved they have left behind. County Hall will be lit up in blue and green in the evening to honour the emergency services.

An online ‘Covid reflection’ page will be available from Tuesday 23 March at https://somersetnewsroom.com/2021/03/17/somerset-coronavirus-reflection-page/ for staff and members of the public to share their own personal reflection messages – which will remain as a permanent reminder of the last year.

The Council is also inviting staff and the public to share pandemic-inspired poems as part of World Poetry Day on March 21 - a therapeutic way to comfortably share feelings and thoughts if they want to.

Anyone who wishes to take part and would like to add their own reflection message, photo (please have all necessary permissions in place) or poem to the ‘Covid reflection’ memorial page can do so by emailing communications@somerset.gov.uk . Messages may also be shared via the County Council’s social media channels on the day.

Somerset FT’s bereavement and chaplaincy teams invite families whose loved ones died in our care during the last 12 months, to send the name of the person who has died to its patient experience team.

You can do this by emailing myvoice@somersetft.nhs.uk  and using ‘National Day of Reflection’ as the subject heading.

The person’s name will be written onto a yellow leaf, read out and hung on the tree. Should any family wish to have the leaf afterward, please include a postal address in the body of the email and it can be sent to them to keep.