Final Report > Chapter 9: The Paediatric Cardiac Surgical Service in Bristol > Parents at the BRHSC and the BRI > Support, counselling and bereavement services for parents

Support, counselling and bereavement services for parents

42 We use the term `support' to encompass all activities or arrangements which help to meet the psychological and social needs of parents whose children are receiving care. It covers a wide range of activities, from practical arrangements for parents to stay in hospital and assist in their child's care, to the giving of information, encouragement, advice and sympathy. Such support may be provided in the hospital or surgery, or away from these, for example, by self-help groups or facilitator-led support groups. We take `counselling' to mean the more formal activity of a trained counsellor, psychologist or psychotherapist. Whilst support skills are generally expected of all those working as healthcare professionals, counsellors are expected to have specialised training and undergo continuing supervision. [42]

43 Something of a patchwork of support, counselling and, in the case of the death of a child, bereavement services was available to parents at the UBH/T throughout the period 1984-1995. In addition to staff who provided these services as ancillary to their jobs, they were specifically provided by the Bristol and South West Children's Heart Circle, the UBH/T chaplains, the Social Services Department of Bristol City Council, Mrs Vegoda, and Miss Stratton.

44 When a child died, it was not only those staff specifically designated to do so who came into contact with distressed and bereaved families. The surgeon sought to talk to the bereaved parents as soon as possible after the operation, assisted by a nurse or the hospital counsellor. The parents were invited to meet the surgeon again some six weeks later when they might feel more able to discuss matters. [43] When a child had sustained some disability, the parents were again encouraged to meet the surgeon on a later occasion when information as to the extent of injury and any permanent disability would be known. [44]

45 The Patient Affairs Officer at the BRI, Mrs Diane Kennington, assisted parents with such practical matters as arrangements for a post-mortem, the registration of death and the funeral.

46 At the BRHSC these functions were the responsibility of the portering staff.

47 The parents of deceased children were also given a leaflet called `After your Child has Died', which was specific to the BRI's Ward 5. [45]

Footnotes

[42] See the advice of the Inquiry's Experts in Annex B: Jean Simons `Giving Information to Parents with an Unwell Child', 2000 at 10k and Valerie Mandelson `Comments on selected parents' experience of communication with clinicians in Bristol' at 10n

[43] WIT 0120 0234 - 0235 Mr Wisheart; WIT 0084 0103 Mr Dhasmana

[44] WIT 0084 0103 - 0104 Mr Dhasmana

[45] See further the Inquiry's Interim Report, `Removal and retention of human material', May 2000