Dying Matters Awareness Week encourages people to talk about death
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is supporting Dying Matters Awareness Week (13 – 19 May) aimed at encouraging people to talk openly about dying, death and bereavement.
The Palliative Care Team will be holding a stand in the main reception of Derriford Hospital on Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 May to provide staff, patients and visitors the opportunity to find out more information about Dying Matters, the importance of pre-planning and the end of life care Derriford Hospital provides.
Irene Harvey, Liverpool Care Pathway Facilitator explains: “We appreciate it’s a sensitive subject but we want to stress the importance of having these conversations before the point in time when the subject can be too emotional to address.
“The time can be made easier for loved ones if you have discussed your wishes and planned in advance. A care plan can also help you to come to terms with dying."
This year’s ‘be ready for it’ Dying Awareness Week, organised by the Dying Matters Coalition, aims to encourage the public to take five simple steps to make their end of life experience better for both themselves and their loved ones.
The five steps are:
- Make a will
- Record your funeral wishes
- Plan your future care and support
- Register as an organ donor
- Tell your loved ones your wishes.
Eve Richardson, Chief Executive of the Dying Matters Coalition and National Council for Palliative Care said: “Every minute someone in England dies, but many people still feel uncomfortable talking about end of life issues. Talking about dying, death and bereavement is in everyone’s best interest as it can help ensure that all of us can get the care and support we want, where we want it, at the end of our lives.
Half of all people in the UK die in hospital and if patients have discussed their end of life wishes with relatives, it can be passed on to the hospital to take the relevant steps to provide the care.
