What if this was your #LastSummer ?

#LastSummer. A new initiative designed to help people from Norfolk and Suffolk discuss their end of life wishes and prepare for the future while fulfilling their aspirations has been launched.

#LastSummer, spearheaded by the Norfolk and Suffolk Palliative Care Academy, encourages people to think about what really matters to them before using Twitter to share details of what they would do if they knew this summer would be their last.

The campaign has been inspired by the recent Channel 4 documentary “My Last Summer”, which followed five terminally ill people as they prepared for the last few months of their lives.

Its aim is to encourage people to talk openly about death and dying and start thinking about the things they would like to achieve before reaching the end of their lives. It is hoped this will also help people to start conversations about their wishes with their loved ones and begin making their own preparations, such as leaving a will or completing an advance care plan.

Maggie Parsons, project lead for the academy, said: “#LastSummer is the latest initiative in our ongoing campaign to encourage people to talk openly about their wishes. We want people to plan ahead for every stage of their life – including their death – to make sure they make the most of every second.

“It’s important to remember that you don’t have to be ill to think about your end of life wishes. We talk about the things in life, so why not expand that to include the things we want at the end of life? After all, talking about death won’t bring it any closer.

“We hope that people from across Norfolk and Suffolk will take this opportunity to think about what they would do if faced with their last summer, share those aspirations with others and use #LastSummer as the platform from which to start discussions about the end of their own lives.”

To get involved, add your thoughts on Twitter using the hashtag #LastSummer. You can follow the campaign @be_ready_for_it

Notes: The Norfolk and Suffolk Palliative Care Academy is a group of individuals and organisations which are working together to improve palliative care education and training and ultimately patient care. Its aim is to give patients more choice at the end of their lives, provide more support for carers and increase transferable skills so that staff can deliver care in all areas more effectively.  

It is primarily funded by Health Education East of England (HEEoE), which aims to continuously improve the quality of education, training and development in the region so that the health and care workforce can respond effectively to the needs of patients, carers and families. 

In addition, the academy receives support from HealthEast, NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney’s Clinical Commissioning Group, Norfolk County Council and East of England Strategic Clinical Network for Cancer. It also works in partnership with the Norfolk and Suffolk Dementia Alliance.

Issued by the Norfolk and Suffolk Palliative Care Academy. For more information, please email [email protected] 

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