New child bereavement care resources for nurses in Scotland
NHS Education for Scotland has launched a set of resources to help nurses and other healthcare professionals deal with child death and bereavement.
The educational resources include video animations, a website and information posters. One video features the voices of child actors to help staff learn how to care for bereaved children.
It says the potential discomfort of discussing the issue of dying is not only in the patient’s mind but also likely to be in the minds of the professionals who are looking after them.
Anxiety
NHS Education for Scotland chief executive Caroline Lamb said: ‘While some specialists may deal with death and bereavement almost on a daily basis, many professionals will encounter bereavement situations very rarely in their careers, particularly unexpected deaths.
‘This can lead to anxiety and stress, not being able to find the right words to say or even knowing where to turn to for support. These bite-size animations and additional support will reduce the fear of the unknown and lead to greater and better support for Scotland’s NHS workforce and those they are caring for.’
Sandra Campbell, Macmillan nurse consultant for cancer and palliative care, and cancer team lead for NHS Forth Valley, said: ‘These films will provide healthcare professionals with an excellent communication resource for use in various settings to support people when they may be at their most vulnerable.’
Further information