Annex A > Chapter 17 - Communication Between Healthcare Professionals and Patients > Communication after the operation and when the child died > Evidence from other members of the staff at the UBH/T

Evidence from other members of the staff at the UBH/T

348 Ms Joyce Woodcraft [407] stated in her written evidence to the Inquiry:

`Some nurses and doctors will find it very difficult to hide their own emotions on the death of any patient. This is particularly true of a baby or child that has been "specialled" by a nurse for a long period of time. A more senior nurse may take over parental support if this was deemed necessary, but [this] did not happen frequently in my experience.' [408]

349 The Reverend Yeomans stated:

`I felt that staff showed immense sensitivity when dealing with parents and were supportive every step of the way. They provided comfort throughout and became involved in all cases. Staff too, were upset when patients died, and may have found it difficult because of their own grief or lack of experience, to give parents what they wanted all the time. It can be very difficult to anticipate and give what bereaved parents want in their grief, distress and anger, when at that moment of time they may be inconsolable.' [409]

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Footnotes

[407] Joyce Marian Woodcraft, Senior Sister BRHSC ICU 1985-94

[408] WIT 0121 0020 Ms Woodcraft

[409] WIT 0274 0009 The Reverend Yeomans