Let’s talk about it – that’s the message for a national campaign around the subject of death.
Every year North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust raises awareness of Dying Matters Awareness Week by highlighting the importance of talking to people. With this year’s focus being #DyingtobeHeard
As the world responds to the challenges it currently faces, the Trust is reminding people about the importance of planning for the future.
Macmillan Lead Nurse for Palliative and End of Life Care John Sheridan said: “Dying Matters Week is an opportunity to highlight to people the importance of having that conversation with your loved ones.
“We are living in very challenging times at the moment. It’s important we all need to have that discussion and not shy away from it.
“It’s too easy to dodge that conversation with a joke or a “maybe later.” But we know it’s hard for people to talk about death and the practical aspects of getting ready for it. So when someone wants to talk about death, we owe it to them to be the other half of that conversation. If they want to talk, we need to listen.”
Advance Care Planning for your future care is about sharing with health professionals what is important to you. What you have concerns about and what treatments you may and may not want.
It can be as detailed as you want. It is about patients and their loved ones being at the centre of future plans; if we can plan ahead. There is less likelihood of a crisis or people not knowing what to expect. This can be supported by any healthcare professional you may be seeing. Palliative Care is about living as well as possible for as long as possible. So ask how you can be supported by it.
For more resources and information you can visit the Northern regional Deciding Right website at www.northerncanceralliance.nhs.uk/deciding-right