FSID’s campaign for a standard protocol to improve professional responses to all sudden infant deaths has three key recommendations:

• A paediatrician, working in conjunction with the police, should visit each family within 24 hours of the death to take a complete medical history and offer initial support to the family
• All post mortem examinations should be carried out by a paediatric pathologist, a specialist in babies’ disorders
• A case discussion should be held with all the professionals who were involved with the family or the baby to review all available information, learn as much as possible about why that baby died, and plan future support for the family

We have produced guidelines for professionals on responding when a baby dies. The overall aim is to ensure that best practice is met, thorough investigation of the death and that the needs of the bereaved family are met.

You might wish to produce a protocol specific to your area. This would relate to either your profession or ideally would be multi-disciplinary.

FSID’s team of Regional Development Officers are skilled in assisting this development. Nationally we are campaigning for the government to make our recommendation mandatory.

Consider buying "Unexpected death in childhood: a handbook for practitioners" by Dr Peter Sidebotham.