When a Child Dies: An NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Framework for General Practice

When a Child Dies: An NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Framework for General Practice has been developed by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside in collaboration with The Alder Centre and Claire House Children’s Hospice to equip general practice teams with the tools and understanding to support bereaved families following the death of a child. 

While healthcare professionals are experienced in dealing with loss, child deaths are deeply traumatic and often occur under sudden or complex circumstances, presenting unique clinical and emotional challenges.  

The framework aims to ensure that general practice teams across Cheshire and Merseyside are prepared to provide sensitive, proactive care in these most difficult of circumstances. 

The guidance is based on insight from primary care clinicians and was developed in close consultation with bereaved parents, whose powerful testimonies are quoted throughout the document. 

The framework includes: 

  • A checklist for practices to follow upon notification of a child’s death
  • Guidance on communicating with and providing care for grieving families
  • Guidance on supporting practice staff through challenging circumstances
  • Links to local and national resources for both families and staff
Information:

“The death of a child is a rarely talked about, deeply traumatic and upsetting event. At the heart there are grieving parents who need care, compassion and support.  When a Child Dies: An NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Framework for General Practice provides an essential checklist of actions to take, bolstered by a wealth of practical suggestions and resources. 

“This framework will help GPs to support parents through devastating grief while also looking to support themselves through the process. NHS Cheshire and Merseyside have produced a resource that will help GPs and thereby help the patients they serve. We would encourage all to read and adapt for their own local settings.”

— Dr Michael Mulholland, Honorary Secretary, Royal College of General Practitioners

 

We encourage every practice to review this framework, engage with staff to ensure they are familiarised with the protocols and recommendations, and consider appointing a practice lead for child death to promote awareness and facilitate further education training as necessary.