Staff at Junction Street Family Practice in Nowra have made a significant contribution to a newly released national online learning course designed to help general practices to support patients through grief and bereavement.

Nowra-based GP Dr Dominic Frawley helped to adapt the content for a general practice setting. The module was originally written by subject matter experts at Illawarra Shoalhaven Health District.

Funded by COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN, the new video vignettes feature Junction Street Family Practice’s Practice Manager, Gail Lloyd and Practice Nurse, Lorraine Evison.

Dr Frawley said he hoped the training would equip and build the confidence of both general practitioners and non-clinical general practice staff in responding well to someone who is grieving.

“It is helpful to remember that people who are grieving don’t need to be fixed, and most people are incredibly resilient. Grief is our natural human response to loss. We will all experience loss following the death of someone significant in our lives in our lifetime; the grief may last many years, but the intensity might change,” he said.

“GPs and practice staff are well placed to support people who are grieving, as we have an existing connection and understanding. We're generally the first port of call and are regarded as a trusted source of advice and support. Sometimes people believe they need specialist training to assist people who are grieving, but in most cases the main thing people need is compassion, authenticity and warmth.

“On occasions, specialist support is needed and it is helpful to be able to identify when people do need to be referred to a specialist service. These skills are best learnt once someone is on the job and relating to people in a general practice setting every day,” Dr Frawley said.

“Some people might want to talk about their feelings or thoughts with someone who they know isn’t going to judge them. However, generally what you say isn’t as important as how you say it. Allowing time to sit with someone who is feeling that overwhelming sense of sadness can be very helpful and reduce their sense of loneliness,” Dr Frawley said.

Ms Prudence Buist, COORDINARE’s CEO said: “Building capacity in general practice is important to ensure that health services are accessible, focused on the needs of the person and coordinated across all parts of the health system. We aim to equip general practice staff with the skills to support families and caregivers who are dealing with grief.

She added: “I would encourage anyone who works in a general practice to take the opportunity to do this bereavement module. We funded ACCRM to develop and make this training available online, so GPs and general practice staff can be informed how best to support their patients who are experiencing grief.”

The training covers appropriate communication strategies, and the many ways patients experience grief and/or bereavement. It also looks at related grief disorders, risk factors that may require specialised support and referral pathways to support and specialist bereavement services,” said Ms Buist.

The online training module is available free to members of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) via the website here.

Non-members who live/work in South Eastern NSW can access the ACCRM training free of charge via a discount code available from COORDINARE’s website.

ISLHD’s Bereavement Service provides free counselling to all bereaved members of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven community.

Anyone can self-refer for grief and bereavement counselling via the service by contacting 1300 068 458 or email ISLHD-BereavementService@health.nsw.gov.au

For grief and bereavement support, contact Lifeline 13 11 14, 13YARN (13 92 76) or Griefline 1300 845 745 for support.

Non-members who live/work in South Eastern NSW can access the ACCRM training free of charge via a discount code available. Please email info@coordinare.org.au to find out how.