ABSTRACT
Anxiety is a natural response when faced with painful emotions and a sense of helplessness. There are no blueprints for any given situation, but some general guidelines can provide signposts. The first and most important guideline is to ensure that adequate systems are in place, and that staff induction programmes make them known. A designated person should be responsible for the ongoing care of parents or for co-ordinating that initial support, in line with Department of Health guidelines. There are some situations where the decision to withdraw life support is fraught with difficulty. Hospital staff should be aware of cultural and religious differences, with access to translators in case of language difficulties, and to signers for the deaf. Parents are often very anxious to know where the child's body is taken after they have said their goodbyes. Some funeral directors deliver a free basic service for any child who dies under the age of 16.
