Bereaved to be given dignity bags after death of loved ones

People who have loved ones who have died at Jersey's Hospital or in the States nursing homes, will now be given dignity bags for the deceased's belongings.

The States of Jersey say it had not been unusual for a person's possessions to be passed back to their families in a plastic bag or a bin liner.

The aim of the dignity bag is to provide a sensitive way of returning belongings to family members.

The symbol of a butterfly is on the bag, chosen recently by hospital staff, as a way to alert members of the hospital that someone has become recently bereaved.

The bags have been financed by the Chaplaincy Chapel Fund, which was set up to be used in improving patient care and well-being.

A Jersey printing firm has produced 1000 bags and they will soon be distributed around the hospital and nursing homes.