Annex A > Chapter 16 - Support and Counselling > Guidance and expert evidence on support and counselling > Non-governmental guidance

Non-governmental guidance

339 Dr Humphrey also commented on guidance and recommendations from non-governmental sources. She wrote:

`... a number of professional and voluntary bodies have made recommendations in recent years concerning the care of children in hospital. Most of these endorse or reiterate the standards contained in the DoH guidance in relation to parental involvement and support.' [419]

340 She set out those that went into more detail or made additional recommendations. She noted that the British Paediatric Association's 1995 report `Tertiary Services for Children and Young People' : [420]

`... points up the "vital role" of the specialist social worker ... It observes that in some regions, specialist social worker posts have been reduced or discontinued because of new funding arrangements.' [421]

341 She also noted that Action for Sick Children published recommendations `Setting Standards for Children Undergoing Surgery' in 1994 [422] which included guidance in relation to parents' needs, such as the need for information about wards and hospital facilities on admission, and support for parents. Recommendations included the provision of support for:

`... link workers to help prepare families from minority communities and help them to express their wishes and anxieties and to ask questions;

`for parents who may become distressed and anxious once the child is unconscious.' [423]

342 Dr Humphrey noted that:

`In 1988, a working party involving the British Paediatric Association, the King's Fund and the National Association of Health Authorities produced guidelines on the care of dying children and their families. [424] These go into considerable detail into the support needs of parents at all stages from diagnosis to bereavement including, for example, the need to ...

`ensure good communication between parents and professionals;

`ensure that parents have adequate finance;

`ensure that parents are aware of the range of people (and self-help groups), both in hospital and in the community, who might help by listening and talking;

`give parents the opportunity to talk to other parents in a similar situation;

`offer continuity, friendship and sensitive support responding to individual needs.

`The guidelines also suggest mechanisms for ensuring that these principles are translated into practice through, for example, education and support of staff involved.' [425]

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Footnotes

[419] INQ 0025 0015; Dr Humphrey's paper

[420] British Paediatric Association. `Tertiary Services for Children and Young People', 1995

[421] INQ 0025 0015; Dr Humphrey's paper

[422] Hogg C. `Setting Standards for Children Undergoing Surgery', Action for Sick Children, 1994

[423] INQ 0025 0015 - 0016 ; Dr Humphrey's paper

[424] British Paediatric Association, King Edward's Hospital Fund for London, National Association of Health Authorities. `The Care of Dying Children and their Families', 1988

[425] INQ 0025 0016 - 0017 ; Dr Humphrey's paper