SUPPORT AROUND DEATH

Support Around Death

This NHS Education for Scotland website aims to support health and social care staff who are working with patients, carers and families before, at, and after death. It provides key information on the clinical, legislative, and practical issues involved.

NES materials on this site are available in alternative formats and community languages please email SupportAroundDeath@nes.scot.nhs.uk to discuss how we can best meet your requirements

Before death

At/After death

Bereavement

Video Wall

If you are a patient, relative or carer looking for information on end of life or bereavement care, please visit:

Latest news

21/03/25

SAVE THE DATE ! NES Bereavement Conference 2025

NHS Education for Scotland 6th Bereavement Education conference will be taking place on Tuesday 11th November. More info here

17/03/25

Talking about Bereavement Podcast

Kate Clark, Founder of the award-winning charity Pushing Up the Daisies discusses the ongoing caring relationship when caring for someone who dies.

14/03/25

10 years of Bereavement Education Programme

2025 marks 10 years of the Bereavement Education Programme. Join us for a virtual event on Thursday 18th September 13:30-15:30 to celebrate.

03/03/25

Talking about Bereavement Podcast

Imogen Jones, Associate Prof at the University of Leeds discusses her research on medico-legal death investigation & why respecting the dead matters

25/02/25

Medical certificates of cause of death guidance

This Guidance supersedes previous CMO letters of 2014, 2018 and 2022

17/02/25

Talking about Bereavement Podcast

Dr Kate Woodthorpe & Dr John MacArtney discuss the sociological perspectives of death, dying & bereavement and consider the phrase ‘loved ones’.

03/02/25

Talking about Bereavement Podcast

Christiana Ekpete, Healthcare Chaplain, NHS Tayside discusses internationally recruited staff and supporting those affected by bereavement.

20/01/25

Talking about Bereavement Podcast

In this episode, Meritxell Miret Gonzalez, Mortuary Manager discusses improving care after death standards and destigmatising bereavement.

View all news

NES 'Talking about Bereavement' Podcast Series

In this episode, Lynne Innes talks to Kate Clark, Palliative and Community Nurse, NHS Scotland / Marie Curie and Founder of the award-winning charity Pushing Up the Daisies who discusses the ongoing caring relationship when caring for someone who dies, the importance of what we do in that time and how it can affect us.

You can listen to the episode on Spotify or visit the Podcast page for more information.

Access the resource mentioned in this podcast:

Short Educational Animations

This animation is one example of the short educational videos NES have produced for health and social care professionals around bereavement - please visit our video wall to see more.

Discussing dying is something most of us shy away from. The potential discomfort is not just in the patient’s mind - it’s also likely to be in the minds of the professionals who are looking after them. This NES video aims to help healthcare professionals discuss dying openly and honestly with their patients.

Two downloadable leaflets which accompany the video can be found here: summary leaflet and detailed leaflet.

Site Guide

Before Death

This section covers information regarding end of life care, patient and family support, CPR decisions and organ donation.

Before Death

At/After Death

Focused on the completion of Medical Certificates of Cause of Death, but also covers confirmation of death, post mortems and involvement of the procurator fiscal.

At/After Death