Relatives of organ donors are the most critical link in maintaining organ availability, as they must express their lack of objection before organ retrieval can take place. This three-year, longitudinal study sought to clarify the needs of families throughout their decision-making and bereavement, to provide a rationale for further preparation of professionals involved in this sensitive work and guidance to the voluntary organisations that seek to support them. Face-to-face interviews and two, self-completed, psychometric measures were used to elicit the bereavement experiences of 46 family members who chose to donate their deceased relatives' organs and three who declined donation. Participants who chose to donate were interviewed on three occasions at 3 5, 13 15 and 18 26 months post bereavement. Single interviews were carried out with participants who declined donation. This presentation will explore the long-term bereavement needs of families. Families needed easy access to both formal (transplant co-ordinators, support groups and bereavement organisations) and informal (friends and family) sources of support after leaving the hospital. They needed to hear from transplant co-ordinators about the use of the organs. Their need to hear about and from the recipients of their loved ones' organs increased over time. Implications are that bereavement support must begin at the bedside and continue until it is no longer needed. Meaning much greater integration of support services with a seamless transfer of care from the hospital to a support organisation specifically designed to meet the ongoing bereavement needs of families, whatever their decision regarding organ and tissue donation.