Breaking the news

[yasmins3]

I was just wondering if anybody knows of any guidelines that should be followed when breaking the news to the parents of a newborn that their child has permanent childhood hearing loss. I'm aware of a course that is available callled 'Sharing the news' and people who break the news should have attended this course.

Also anybody got any suggestions on how their departments do this?
Thanks

[incus]

The Sharing the news course is put on by NHSP staff and is a 2 day event including active practice with trained actors. Details can be found on the nhsp website www.hearing.screening.nhs.uk.

I think it is impossible to give simple guidelines about this as the most crucial elements are listening, empathy, time, sensitivity - but there are useful practical hints on what to do and not do, and having good sources of written info and websites to give to parents to back up what you say.

I was just wondering if anybody knows of any guidelines that should be followed when breaking the news to the parents of a newborn that their child has permanent childhood hearing loss. I'm aware of a course that is available callled 'Sharing the news' and people who break the news should have attended this course.

Also anybody got any suggestions on how their departments do this?
Thanks

[PRH]

I went on the course a few years ago and have found it really really helpful. They employ actors, who play the role of parents.

one of the things they do at the start is to do a short 'play' of news being broken really really badly, and then repeat it, where the people on the course can shout out 'stop' and change their actions. IF you don't like role play, you might struggle a bit though!

In my career since then I've had to break the news several times. You never leave those appointments feeling good, but after going on the course I felt better as I knew that although it was sad, I was confident that I'd said the right things, listened to the parents etc etc.

I'd really recommend it
hope that helps
penny

[yasmins3]

Thanks guys
Your replies have been helpful!! So I guess there are no simple guidelines to follow.
'Sharing the news' sounds useful too