Cheshire GP shares insights on child bereavement in powerful new podcast
Tuesday, 23 September 2025
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Associate Medical Director for Primary Care has featured in a powerful new podcast exploring how GPs can support families through the devastating loss of a child.
Joined by Dr Bryony Kendall, Cheshire GP Dr Jonathan Griffiths discusses the emotional and professional challenges of child bereavement in general practice and how the recently-developed When a Child Dies framework is helping doctors to provide sensitive, proactive care in the most difficult of circumstances.
When a Child Dies: An NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Framework for General Practice was produced in collaboration with The Alder Centre – a dedicated child bereavement centre based at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital – and Claire House Children’s Hospice.
Drawing on best practice and the lived experiences of bereaved parents, the framework provides a checklist for GP practices to follow, advice on communicating with and supporting bereaved parents and families, as well as signposting to further support.
The guidance was created in close consultation with bereaved parents, whose powerful testimonies are quoted throughout the document, serving as poignant reminders of the important roles GPs play as one of the few consistent healthcare touchpoints for families in the aftermath of such a loss.