Responding to the Sudden Death of a Doctor or Dentist in Training

These resources have been commissioned by Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans of the United Kingdom. They were led by NHS Education for Scotland in partnership with colleagues from Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, Health Education and Improvement Wales and Health Education England.

The resources are anticipated to form part of a package of learning and reflective resources, which can be used by those in educational roles who work with doctors or dentists in training across the UK.

Introduction

Those of us working in health and social care may come across situations where we experience the sudden death of a doctor or dentist in training. Knowing what to say and do in these situations to provide support to ourselves and others can be challenging and naturally people may feel apprehensive. 

The resources are intended to be used by medical and dental education teams of educators, training programme directors, clinical supervisors, and administrators across the UK. They are anticipated to equip medical and dental education teams to feel more confident in responding to the sudden death of a doctor or dentist in training.

The content includes illustrations of how to break the news of a death, helpful things to say and dealing with social media.

We have incorporated support for medical and dental education staff themselves, with case studies and examples of when bereavement in the workplace had been managed well.

Supporting Medical and Dental Education Teams with Initial Communication and Practical Tasks

Hearing the news of the death of a doctor in training can be upsetting for those who knew and worked with them, or who were involved in providing training support.

Knowing how to respond and undertake the practical and administrative tasks that are required in response can be daunting and we may feel apprehensive about providing support to those who are bereaved or affected by the death.

This video aims to offer support on how to respond and offers assistance with some of the practical tasks in this situation.

Click the image to the right to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.

A transcript for this video can be found here.

Supporting Medical and Dental Education Teams in responding to the sudden death of a doctor or dentist in training: Looking after yourself and others

The news of the sudden or unexpected death of a doctor or dentist in training can be shocking, distressing and destabilising for those who knew and worked with them, or who are involved in providing training support.

Emotional reactions to hearing the news may have an impact on our wellbeing and ability to function, no matter what our role is.

This video aims to help medical and dental education teams to look after themselves and others in responding the sudden death of a doctor or dentist in training.

Click the image to the right to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.

A transcript for this video can be found here.

Case Studies

We have developed six case study films which highlight stories based on real-life experiences of staff working in medical education teams across the UK. They may be used as a tool to enable reflection and discussion.

Reflective Activity

You may wish to pause and reflect after watching the films.

Here are some questions to consider in your reflections.

What did you notice in the film?
Is there anything you are wondering about?
Do you have any realisations after watching the film?
Is there anything that you may now do differently if you experience the sudden death of a doctor or dentist in training?
How does the sudden death of a doctor or dentist in training impact on us as individuals?
What can we learn from the films to support our own wellbeing?