Final Report > Chapter 9: The Paediatric Cardiac Surgical Service in Bristol > Parents at the BRHSC and the BRI > Training in counselling

Training in counselling

48 As was almost universally the case in the period of time under review, the surgeons and other clinicians received no formal training in counselling or in providing support.

49 The nurses were the members of staff most heavily involved with the children and their families throughout their care. Unlike the clinicians, they did receive some training. From around 1980, a two-day course in counselling and a five-day course concerned with caring for dying children was available for nursing staff, and from 1984 a specific course for nursing staff was run by the UBH/T's training department entitled `Talking to Relatives'. [46] Many of the senior ICU nurses had taken one or both of these courses. In addition, in 1985 training sessions for BRHSC nursing staff were introduced to explain the impact of different customs and religious beliefs on the care of patients and the treatment of the families. Every intake of nurses subsequently undertook this training session. [47]

Footnotes

[46] WIT 0234 0026 - 0027 Ms Sherriff, Assistant General Manager, BRHSC since 1992

[47] WIT 0273 0013 Canon Mann, Chaplain, BRHSC 1985-1994