Karen Landi
Nurse Practitioner
Barnet PCN
The Challenge
After losing two friends, Karen recognised a significant gap in her practice’s bereavement care. The partners of her friends had not received any contact, advice, or condolences after their loss, from her practice. Though it wouldn’t have changed the situation for the families, they would have appreciated the support and concern.
50.1%
of family caregivers weren’t contacted within 3-6 weeks of the death to ask how they were coping.
(Aoun et al., 2017)
The Innovation
Karen initiated weekly searches for deceased patients, added bereavement as a concern for their families, and created a patient communication template for condolences. She updated the website with support links and developed a spreadsheet tracking patient details. This process is now part of quarterly Palliative Care MDT meetings.
The Impact
- Bereavement is now coded on the practice clinical record system
- Highlights the issue for the GP and practice staff
- Starts conversations regarding bereavement and grief
- The practice can offer appropriate support and condolences to families
