AQW 9451/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 22/03/2024
Answered On Date: 18/04/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what support is provided to families bereaved by Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood.

Answer:

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is currently leading work to develop a Regional HSC protocol for the response to and review of Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Infancy and Childhood (SUDIC). This work is being informed by extant guidance, policy and experience to date across the UK relating to the surveillance and investigation of child death.

Whilst the focus of the work primarily relates to the Health and Social Care the PHA is working closely with key stakeholders from other agencies including the PSNI and Coroner’s office to optimise collaborative working to better understand the circumstances surrounding the death of any child up to 18 years of age who dies suddenly and unexpectedly. One of the aims of this new protocol is to improve the experience of and support for bereaved families, as well as professionals, after the death of an infant or child. With this in mind, the SUDIC development team are continuing to work closely with the NI Bereavement Network which includes important voluntary organisations, such as SANDS and CRUSE.