Let's talk about death
06 May, 2016
Dying Matters Awareness Week 2016 is taking place from 9 May and once again City Health Care Partnership CIC (CHCP CIC) are getting involved. Dying Matters Awareness week takes place every year during May, to promote the importance of talking about dying, death and bereavement.
CHCP CIC, who provide end of life care services in Hull, are teaming up with Hull Churches Home from Hospital and Families Together, Dove House Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Support and Cruse Bereavement Care, to provide an opportunity to have a chat about why it is important to be prepared for dying.
There will be a bus at Northpoint Shopping Centre, Bransholme on Tuesday 10 May, near the Foredyke pub, from 10am to 4pm. The bus will then be visiting Walton Street Market on Wednesday 11 May from 8am to 1pm.
Bev Clark, Macmillan Practice Development Nurse Specialist for CHCP CIC, said “Nobody likes to think about getting ill or dying, but talking about dying won’t make it happen.
“Unfortunately in British society it’s a bit of a taboo subject and people are often reluctant to have conversations about dying, this can make it difficult to for healthcare professionals to approach the subject with patients who have life limiting conditions.
“It is essential that we can sensitively support our patients and their loved ones to have conversations about their future care, their wishes for when they are alive and also after their death. Having these conversations can help people to make the most of their life, safe in the knowledge that their loved ones know their future wishes.”
Dying Matters Awareness Week is a national event, and this year’s theme is ‘The Big Conversation’, encouraging the nation to have a conversation with a loved one about what they want for the end of their lives. People are being encouraged to take five simple steps to make their end of life experience better for themselves and their loved ones, these steps are:
- Write a will
- Record your funeral wishes
- Plan your future care and support
- Consider if you would like to register as an organ donor
- Tell your loved ones your wishes.
