The changing face of bereavement: providing care and maintaining our own wellbeing during the pandemic

NHS Education for Scotland’s 2nd national bereavement education conference took place on Wednesday 24th November 2021 with hugely positive feedback from the survey completed by delegates after the event. 

#NESBereavement2021

This one-day, virtual event attracted interest from over 1000 Health and social care professionals from across Scotland and beyond. Delegates heard from a wide range of speakers on bereavement-related topics relevant to those working across health and social care. 

  • "An excellent informative day. Not only information and learning wise but it touched on a level emotionally that I hadn’t expected to take from the day" 
  • "The conference was excellent very emotional but also demonstrating the amazing work and sharing good practice through out the pandemic"

Below you can view recordings of the plenaries and workshops, as well as the slides which accompanied each session.

Programme

Click here or on the image to the right to view the programme

The Deepest Wound: Healing and Hope in the Midst of Hurt 

Dr Donald Macaskill (Chief Executive, Scottish Care) explored the impact of Covid upon the way we have grieved, what lessons we might learn and where we have seen signs of both hope and change in the midst of challenge.

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

Slides to accompany the session can be viewed here

Bereavement during COVID-19: The experiences of those bereaved and the voluntary sector services supporting them

Dr Emily Harrop, Research Associate, Cardiff University and Dr Lucy Selman, Senior Research Fellow, University of Bristol talked on their research into the experiences and support needs of people bereaved during the pandemic in the UK and the experiences of the voluntary and community sector services providing bereavement support. They looked at the implications for improving care and support for people bereaved during and following the pandemic as well as how the research fed into the independent UK Commission on Bereavement. 

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

Slides to accompany the session can be viewed here

A transcript for this video can be found here.

Stories and Experiences during the Pandemic - Short Presentations and Panel Discussion

This session incorporated short presentations from 3 speakers recounting their lived experiences of death dying and bereavement in different settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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

Slides to accompany the session can be viewed here:

What happens to your digital assets after you die and how do you plan for a digital legacy? (Slides only)

James Norris, founder of the Digital Legacy Association, explored the importance of planning for our 'digital death' in today’s digital world, examining the normalisation and the ever increasing importance that our 'digital legacy’ has on both how we are remembered and the grieving process.

Slides from this session can be viewed here

 

Psychological perspectives on bereavement, loss and grief: proactive approaches to support others and the importance of compassionate resilience for staff wellbeing

Dr Victoria Thomson (Principal Educator – Psychology, NHS Education for Scotland), explored psychological perspectives on loss, bereavement and grief. 

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

Slides to accompany the session can be viewed here 

A transcript for this video can be found here. 

Palliative Care Patients with Children: Supporting the Family

Donna Hastings (Family Support Worker, St Columba’s Hospice) and Dr Catriona Macpherson (Children and Families Practitioner, Fife Specialist Palliative Care, Victoria Hospice) led a session exploring how best to support patients facing the end of life and who have dependent children. 

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

Slides to accompany the session can be viewed here 

A transcript for this video can be found here. 

Spiritual care, faith and mourning rituals: Understanding how to support people around the time of death

In this workshop, Linda Dunbar, Practice Educator (Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy), NHS Education for Scotland, looked at:

  • How different faith communities deal with death, dying and bereavement, including mourning rituals and other factors
  • Issues to be aware of, and how to ask the right questions of patients and their families/loved ones

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

Slides to accompany the session can be viewed here

A transcript for this video can be found here. 

The Impact of Structural Inequalities on Mortality Rates of Ethnic Minorities during the COVID-19 Pandemic

In her presentation, Dr Gwenetta Curry, Lecturer of Race, Ethnicity, and Health, College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, discussed the links between structural racism and ethnic minority mortality rates.

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

Slides to accompany the session can be viewed here

Bereavement matters in kinship care

Anne Wilson (Head of Development, Children’s Health Scotland) discussed the complex issues and emotions for Kinship Families, the support they need and where this might come from. 

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

Slides to accompany the session can be viewed here

A transcript of this video can be found here

Bereavement support for families after critical illness

Dr Nazir Lone (Senior Clinical Lecturer in Critical Care, University of Edinburgh / Honorary Consultant in Critical Care) and Janine Wilson (Deputy Charge Nurse, Critical Care Unit, NHS Lothian) shared their experiences of providing bereavement care in critical care settings. 

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

Slides to accompany the session from each speaker can be viewed here:

A transcript for this video can be found here.

Rituals, memories and preparing for death: exploring good practice and barriers

Mark Evans (Head of Spiritual Care & Bereavement Lead, NHS Fife) looked at how rituals, creating memories and spiritual care can support individuals complete Worden’s Tasks of Mourning in an increasingly secular world. 

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

Slides to accompany the session can be viewed here

A transcript for this video can be found here. 

Managing legal processes following a death – including Medical Certification of Cause of Death & interaction with the Procurator Fiscal

Dr George Fernie (Senior Medical Reviewer, Death Certification Review Service, HIS) and Sarah Mobsby, Procurator Fiscal Depute, SFIU West, Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service led a session on the legal processes involved following a death in Scotland. 

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

Slides to accompany the session can be viewed here

A Doctor at the Heart of the Pandemic: What I learned about Death, Bereavement and Wellbeing

Dr Matthew Walton (NHS Doctor, London NHS Hospital) gave an honest account about the emotional and personal challenges of the pandemic and the lessons he learned on wellbeing, death and bereavement.

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

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