Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is inviting people in Swindon to a free talk to encourage open conversations about death.
From left: Kevin McNamara, Chief Executive of Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Anne Norman from GWH charity Brighter Futures, Helen Brown, End of Life Clinical Nurse Specialist. The occasion was the handover of blankets knitted by members of the public for End of Life patients
The talk marks Dying Matters Week, which will run from 2 to 8 November.
Doctors and nurses from the Trust’s End of Life Care Team and palliative care specialists from Prospect Hospice will be hosting a discussion on how to approach talking about death and planning ahead for the final stages of life, in a way that celebrates the individual and what matters most to them.
Attendees will hear from professionals about their experiences with end of life care and the support they offer to patients and their families. It is also an opportunity for people to start considering what is important to them, and wishes they’d like to communicate to their loved ones.
Louise Knight, Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Palliative Care Team at the Trust, said: “People don’t have to be terminally ill or in their last year of life to consider planning ahead.
"Losing the ability to make decisions for yourself can happen unexpectedly and planning for your care can take time, so it’s best to start the conversation early on.
“Death can be a very solemn and sad time, but personal touches to make a patient and their loved ones feel involved and comforted during those final stages can make such a difference.
“Small things like someone’s favourite sheets, favourite music or perhaps even their favourite perfume can help that sad time feel more comforting to all.
“Often, people feel uncomfortable instigating these conversations and we would like to break the ice by sharing our experiences of how these conversations can help you say goodbye to someone you love.”
The free talk will be held online at 5.00pm on Thursday, 5 November via Microsoft Teams.
Anyone is welcome to attend and there is no need to register in advance. People can join via the link Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
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