Sudden Death in Childhood (SUDIC)

Please note: This service continues to operate as normal during COVID-19.

The death of a child is a devastating experience. We know that the deaths of some children are both sudden and unexpected. Some are sudden but sadly not unexpected. We know that nothing can ease your loss, but where reasons are not clear; we will make every effort to establish why your child died and ensure that we learn from each family’s loss.

What we offer

We are a community based team, including Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood (SUDIC) Paediatricians, a SUDIC Lead Professional (Nurse), nurse advisors, and a SUDIC secretary. We facilitate the actions required following the Sudden Unexpected Death of a child up to the age of 18 years.

The team work closely with the A&E department, Police, HM Coroner, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and other relevant agencies. The professionals who are in contact with you around the time of your child’s death will need to ask you about what happened. This will usually be a doctor in the Emergency Department, and  a senior police officer. This is to enable them to provide information to the Coroner. The SUDIC Team will be working in partnership with the relevant professionals with the aim of understanding the cause of your loss. We will use the information to improve our support for you and other families in your position.

If your child has died suddenly and unexpectedly, you may be contacted by us to arrange a home visit. The purpose of this visit is to gather further information which could be relevant to the death of your child. The SUDIC team members will provide you with their contact details and you may contact them as you require. They can also provide you with information about support services for yourselves and other family members. We also provide referrals and signposting to bereavement support services.

If you are reading this as a parent or family member of a child who has died in Leeds, then it is important for you to be aware that some information regarding what happened to your child, and the circumstances and events leading up to your child’s death, will be shared with other professionals. This may sometimes include information about other family members. This information will only be shared with those who need to know and information which we share outside the SUDIC process is anonymised. Your co-operation in this process is gratefully received.

Should you wish to know more about information sharing, please do not hesitate to contact the SUDIC team.

• QSupport groups for families after the loss of a child

  We know that the death of your child is a devastating experience. The effects of grief can be overwhelming and you may be left feeling dazed, disorientated, isolated and exhausted. It can be hard to take in information or to make decisions. There is support available. Many parents find meeting others too painful to bear but for those who wish to receive support, the following information may help you to find the right support for you and your family. 

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  Child Bereavement UK 

  Support and Information helpline: 0800 02 888 40
  support@childbereavementuk.org Support for bereaved parents on the helpline. 
  Directory of support with local groups. 

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  Child Death Helpline 

  Helpline: 0800 282 986 
  From a mobile: 0808 800 6019 
  contact@childdeathhelpline.org 
  Helpline staffed by volunteer bereaved parents. 

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  Cruse Bereavement Care 

  Helpline: 0808 808 1677
  leeds@cruse.org.uk 
  www.cruse.org.uk 
  Helpline and face-to-face support for bereaved people.

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  The Compassionate Friends

  Helpline: 0345 123 2304 
  helpline@tcf.org.uk 
  Supporting bereaved parents and their families after a child dies.

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  The Coroner's Courts Support Service

  Helpline: 0300 111 2141 (09:00-19:00 Mon-Fri; 09:00-14:00 Sat) 
  helpline@ccsupport.org.uk 
  A registered charity whose volunteers give emotional and practical support to families and other witnesses attending inquests at 30 Coroner’s Courts around England. 

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  The Lullaby Trust

  Helpline: 0808 802 6868 
  support@lullabytrust 
  www.lullabytrust.org.uk Specialist support for bereaved families and anyone affected by a sudden infant death. 

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  Winston’s Wish 

  Helpline: 08088 020 021 
  info@winstonswish.org.uk 
  The leading childhood bereavement charity in the UK offering practical support and guidance to bereaved children, their families and professionals. 

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  Brake – The Road Safety Charity

  Helpline: 0808 8000401 
  www.brake.org.uk For parents bereaved as a result of a road crash. 

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