National Child Death Summit

Including a small marketplace from selected partners.

Welcome from Paul Farthing, Chief Executive of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

Professor Julia Downing will talk about her research into affecting global change in health inequalities.

Tom Williams, Data Manager at the NCMD (University of Bristol), will present a summary of the latest thematic report on children who died with a life-limiting condition and palliative care services. Tom will also consolidate further NCMD data including describing the characteristics of all children who die, the percentage of sudden and unexpected deaths in different regions of the country, and bereavement support.

An interview with Aisha Peters, bereaved mother of Damali, founder and CEO of Damali Beautiful Vision CIC. Talking with Alison Sorfleet, Practice Educator, Shooting Star Children’s Hospices, Aisha will explain her experience where bereavement care was not available to her family.

A chance to grab a tea or coffee and network, or explore nearby Brunswick Square gardens.

Presented by Dr Jo Garstang, Consultant Community Paediatrician, Research Lead Children & Families Division, Designated Doctor for Child Death, Birmingham & Solihull ICB, Clinical Associate Professor University of Birmingham

Lisa Dennis (Director of Care) and Sarah Hodkinson (Head of Psychosocial Services) will outline the setup and structure of our Specialist Bereavement Service, which has opened up access to 200+ families referred after the death of their child.

Andrew Coppel (Chair of Trustees, Shooting Star Children’s Hospices) will invite you to a buffet lunch, provided free of charge, courtesy of the Albert Hunt Trust.

A short film from Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

Paul will talk to Alison Sorfleet, about the difference support from the Specialist Bereavement Service has made to his family after the death of his daughter Erin.

Sarah Hodkinson (Head of Psychosocial Services) will share findings from mental health standardised assessment tools completed by families accessing the service, and other learnings we’ve made in the first 18 months of extending our service.

Another chance for a tea or coffee and to mingle.

Jo Cohen (Director of Strategy and Partnerships) will outline the strategic decisions that we made as an organisation in order to enable the bereavement service expansion

Your chance to ask questions to hospice team members from Shooting Star and external child death review professionals. Our panel will be chaired by Lisa Dennis (Director of Care) and includes Julia Downing (Chief Executive of the International Children’s Palliative Care Network), Jo Garstang (Clinical Associate Professor, University of Birmingham), Hestor Yorke, (Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine and Designated Doctor for Child Death, North West London CDOP), Paul Farthing (Chief Executive, Shooting Star Children’s Hospices), Kath Conway (Senior Family Support Worker) and Bonnie Blackman (Child Death Review Senior Midwife, North West London Child Death Review Team.)

Dr Katherine Hunt, Professor of inequality and inequity in access to quality end-of-life care for children and young people. University of Southampton.

Lisa Dennis and Sarah Hodkinson will introduce an opportunity for hospices to work together to impact change for the future.