St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Eastbourne has partnered with St Michael’s Hospice in Hastings and UK technology firm Whitelabel to explore whether technology can help make expert bereavement support more accessible to more people.

“We know there is a gap in bereavement support,” explains Ella Williams, Head of Patient and Family Support at St Wilfrid’s Hospice. “This can be because people are waiting for support, are between appointments, want support outside normal service hours, or do not feel ready for, or want to access, traditional services like one-to-one sessions or groups. Together we have been developing and testing an app that we believe can fill some of these gaps.”

The new app – named Fi after a friend of the Whitelabel’s founders who, after losing her mother, said a tool like this would have helped her – was created using both hospices’ expertise.

“The app operates within a closed AI environment, and has been developed using St Wilfrid’s and St Michael’s Hospice resources, knowledge and bereavement expertise, rather than drawing information from the wider internet,” explains Amalabandhu Chandler, Bereavement and Spiritual Support Services Lead at St Michael’s Hospice. “This means that anyone using it can be confident that they are getting expert information and guidance based on decades of knowledge and experience.”

The hospices are keen to stress that Fi is not designed as a replacement for existing bereavement services, but a way of providing more support to more people in a way, and at a time, that suits them. “Fi has been designed to complement both hospices’ existing services,” says Amalabandhu. “Traditional counselling and bereavement support will always be an important part of hospice care, Fi is simply providing another option for people. It is also available to people who aren’t patients of the hospices, meaning more people can benefit from our expertise.”

The app is currently in its final pilot phase, and early results are positive. “Since launching in July, the pilot has welcomed over 70 users and generated more than 400 conversations,” says Ella. “Anonymous insights show people are using Fi to talk about the realities of grief, from sudden waves of emotion and loneliness after loss to difficult family dynamics, anniversaries, cherished memories and the challenge of adjusting to life without someone they love. Usage data has also shown people accessing Fi during evenings and late at night, highlighting the need for support beyond traditional service hours.

The hospices recognise that artificial intelligence (AI) creates both opportunities and risks. Ella explains: “Throughout development, consideration has been given to safety, governance, privacy and the responsible use of technology. The pilot phase has been specifically designed to gather evidence, test assumptions and understand both the benefits and risks before making any longer-term decisions.”

 The current pilot phase of Fi will run until 31^st October. Participation is optional, free and open to all. You can find out more at whitelabel.ai/fi or on the the St Wilfrid’s or St Michael’s websites