ABSTRACT
Nearly all British children are bereaved of someone close to them by the time they turn 16 and, with the Covid-19 pandemic and world humanitarian crises across the news and social media, they are being exposed to more anxiety about death than ever before. Learners need to be taught about grief and death to prepare them to manage bereavement and support others. As it stands, although teaching resources exist and some curriculum guidance documents mention loss or death, there is no statutory requirement for schools anywhere in the UK to cover grief or bereavement and many pupils have no classes about these difficult topics. This article consolidates the case for grief education in schools. We discuss six key questions to examine evidence that children benefit from talking about grief, death and loss;the current provision for grief education in UK schools;the obstacles to teaching these topics and ways to overcome them;and the potential further implications of a policy change. Following the lead of child bereavement charities, research and new national reports on UK bereavement support, we demonstrate the need for mandatory grief education in all four countries of the UK and offer evidence-based recommendations for its implementation. © 2023, Cruse Bereavement Care. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background and importanceWe are on course for a global temperature rise which will see millions of people displaced, injured or dying through rising sea levels, starvation and disease by the end of this century. The health costs are projected to be extraordinary. The use of medicines and medicinal products create waste and pollution. The COVID pandemic and the relentless consumption of personal protective equipment (PPE) has escalated this issue. We must strive towards reducing waste, and ultimately pollution, in order to increase sustainability both for our patients, and for global health.Aim and objectivesTo determine the awareness of qualified pharmacists across the UK with regard to the health risks of a climate crisis, as well as the impact of pharmacy on the environment.Material and methodsIn July 2021, we invited all of our members (n=4788) to complete a short survey to gauge their understanding of the role of pharmacy in the promotion of a sustainable approach to healthcare via an emailed link to a 10-item survey in Webropol. The results were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. No completion incentives were offered. Ethical approval was not required for this study.ResultsOne hundred and seven pharmacists responded to the survey (2.23% response rate). Ninety-four percent of respondents believed that there were aspects of pharmacy practice. Themes to improve sustainability included;sustainable prescribing and deprescribing, raising awareness and penalties for poor practice. Sixty-five percent of respondents provided suggestions on how the proposed changes could be measured, such as measuring the carbon footprint of your organisation, creating energy and waste logs as well as encouraging working from home. Ninety-four percent of respondents believed that aspects of practice were wasteful, and only 37% felt empowered to make change in their organisation. Ninety percent of respondents believed that an increased focus on climate change was required at an organisational level and that leadership was required at all levels of practice.Conclusion and relevanceSurvey respondents believe that aspects of pharmacy practice are not sustainable;however, most do not feel empowered to make change. There is a need for national guidance to support changes in practice, and for local champions and leadership at all levels.References and/or acknowledgementsConflict of interestNo conflict of interest