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Child bereavement—what matters to the families. Part 1: Immediate and short-term communication and care
  1. Shona Elizabeth Johnston1,
  2. Suzanne McAllister2,
  3. Catriona Norden3,
  4. Keta Keens4,
  5. Katharine Jones5,
  6. Gillian Smith6,
  7. Rebecca Duncombe7,
  8. Laura Barnett8,
  9. Amy Krepska9
  1. 1 Department of Paediatrics, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
  2. 2 Department of Neonatology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
  3. 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Craigavon Area Hospital, Portadown, UK
  4. 4 General Practice, Holland House Surgery, Lytham, Lancashire, UK
  5. 5 General Practice, Woodlands and Clerklands Partnership Clerklands Surgery, Horley, UK
  6. 6 Department of Paediatrics, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UK
  7. 7 Department of Paediatrics, Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury, UK
  8. 8 General Practice, Gladstone House Surgery, Ilkeston, UK
  9. 9 Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Shona Elizabeth Johnston; Shona.Johnston{at}ouh.nhs.uk

Abstract

The death of a child is a complex and hugely significant time for a family and community. Sophisticated but sensitive management by clinicians can have both short-term and long-term impacts on how families process the death. There is a paucity of guidance for optimal child bereavement care. A description of the child death review process including key legalities is provided here, and other essential aspects such as memory making, cultural aspects and sibling involvement are explored. Useful agencies and resources are also detailed. We, as both clinicians and bereaved parents, can uniquely provide an overview of the logistics of managing such a challenging event and highlight important subtleties in communication. We attempt, using our own experiences, to provide a framework and best inform future practice.

  • child
  • bereavement
  • parents
  • communication
  • grief

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2023-326386

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    Footnotes

    • X @ZebrasNotHorses

    • Contributors SEJ developed the concept for the article and wrote the initial draft. AK performed a literature search and a comprehensive review and provided much advice. All authors contributed from their personal experiences and knowledge, and contributed to writing, and reviewing the article.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests SEJ has a sessional role with the Oxford School of GP VTS training to teach GP trainees on paediatric topics; this has included one session on child bereavement care. She is also a qualified coach, and coaches healthcare professionals on a freelance basis. LB is a Trustee for Forever Stars, a baby loss charity in Nottingham, UK. All other authors have no conflicts of interest.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    Linked Articles

    • Best practice
      Child bereavement—what matters to the families. Part 2: The long term
      Shona Elizabeth Johnston Suzanne McAllister Catriona Norden Keta Keens Katharine Jones Gillian Smith Rebecca Duncombe Laura Barnett Amy Krepska
      Archives of Disease in Childhood - Education and Practice 2023; 109 169-173 Published Online First: 06 Dec 2023. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-326387