New education resource for UK four nations: Responding to the Sudden Death of a Doctor or Dentist in Training 

New education resource for UK four nations: Responding to the Sudden Death of a Doctor or Dentist in Training 

Experiencing a person’s death can have a significant impact on families, friends and colleagues for a long time to come. Situations that are sudden or unexpected may be particularly harrowing and upsetting for those who are affected. 

A new education resource commissioned by the Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans (UK) (COPMED) and developed by NHS Education for Scotland (NES), will support medical and dental education teams in responding to the sudden death of a doctor or dentist in training.  

The new online resource fulfils a need to support teams with the implementation of local and national guidance regarding practical tasks and support for people who are affected in the event of a death. The resource offers a focus on wellbeing as well as information on how staff can support themselves and others.  

The development was led by NES’s Bereavement Education Programme, in partnership with colleagues from Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, Health Education and Improvement Wales and Health Education England (now NHS England). 

This resource is intended to be used by e.g., Training Programme Directors, Clinical Supervisors and Administrators across the UK to enhance their preparedness in responding to the sudden death of a doctor or dentist in training. It provides approaches to offering compassionate communication and support.  

This includes resources on, for example: 

• how to effectively communicate the news to other doctors or dentists in training and staff who are affected 
• how to promote appropriate staff support 
• how to interact with the family who are bereaved 

Professor Emma Watson, NES Executive Medical Director, said: 

 “The expertise and knowledge of the Bereavement Team in NHS Education for Scotland combined with input of other subject matter experts from the 4 nations have worked collaboratively to produce this much needed resource.” 

Dr Paul Sadler, COPMeD Lead Dean for Professional Support and Wellbeing (COPMeD) added: 

“Receiving a call that someone you know and have worked with has died is at the least a shocking experience. This can quickly be magnified if you are in a position that you need to respond to it and are unsure about what steps to take. The sudden death of a doctor or dentist in training resource is a useful, accessible resource for all staff to access to help make a distressing and stressful situation run a little easier and smoother to the benefit of all concerned.” 

The Bereavement Education Programme within NES is involved in developing educational solutions to support health and social care staff in managing bereavement-related care and communications. 

Responding to the sudden death of a doctor or dentist in training    

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