All doctors, irrespective of their specialty or the setting in which they work, will care for patients who die. Around half of all deaths occur in hospitals.

Evidence suggests that the quality of communication around this process is poorer in hospitals than in other settings, according to responses from relatives who have experienced bereavement. Over half of NHS complaints concern care of the dying.

In this podcast, Katherine Sleeman, clinician scientist and honorary consultant in palliative medicine at King's College London, and Jane Harris, counselling and psychotherapy practitioner, and bereaved mother and daughter join us to discuss what support the carers and relatives of a dying patient need, and give practical advice on how to become better at having those difficult conversations.

Read the full essentials article:
http://www.bmj.com/content/356/bmj.j367