Special event asks – are you “ready for it”?

A special campaign designed to raise awareness of end of life issues while breaking down taboos about death, dying and bereavement will be launched next week.

Called “be ready for it”, the campaign is being led by the Norfolk and Suffolk Palliative Care Academy. Its launch, at the Forum in Norwich on Thursday (16 May), has been arranged to tie in with national Dying Matters awareness week.

BBC Look East presenter Carol Bundock will launch the campaign during a drop in event running at the Forum between 9.30am and 12.30pm. Open to everyone, it will bring lots of information about end of life care and the support services which are available into one place.

Maggie Parsons, cancer and end of life programme manager, said: “This is a unique event which aims to raise awareness of issues relating to death, dying, bereavement and the services which are available to people as they reach the end of their lives

“Dying well is a natural part of a good life, yet despite this, it is still a huge taboo. We want to break down barriers, change behaviours and encourage people to talk openly with their friends, family and relatives about their wishes towards the end of their life, where they want to die and their hopes for their funeral.

“We hope that as many people as possible will join us at the event to find out more, join in the conversation and show that they are ‘ready for it’.”

Lots of different organisations will be showcasing their services at the event, including Big C, Nelson’s Journey, Age UK Norwich, Colney Woodland Burials, the Death Café, Norfolk CALM (Counselling and Learning Matrix), Cruse Bereavement Care, and Gordon Barber Funeral Services.

Anyone who drops in will be able to get advice on will writing from Trinity Legal Services, while information about donating your organs after your death will also be available.

Expert staff from Norfolk Community Health & Care (NCH&C) NHS Trust will also be on hand at the event to tell people about the range of end of life and palliative care services offered by the trust.

People will also hear about NCH&C’s new ‘yellow folders’ initiative, which is being put in place to ensure that, wherever possible, patients receive the care that they want, in the location they choose.

Jenny Vincent, NCH&C’s palliative care coordinator, created the folders and will be at the event next week. She said: “The new yellow folders will be given to patients with life-limiting conditions and aim to ensure each patient’s care is focused on comfort and quality of life.

“The records will prompt people to think in advance about their preferences around the type and location of care they would like to receive. This will improve communication between patients and their clinicians and ensure patient choice is safeguarded.”

The Norfolk and Suffolk Palliative Care Academy is a group of individuals and organisations who are working together to improve palliative care education and training with the aim of ultimately improving patient care.

Set up in 2012, the academy aims to give patients more choice at the end of their lives, improve the care available, provide more support for carers and increase transferable skills so that staff can deliver care in all areas more effectively.

Earlier in the spring, the academy launched a website at www.learncare.org, which brings a range of learning resources for people working in health and social care into one place. A public website will be launched later in the summer.

For more information about the Academy, ring 07747 443948 or email [email protected]. Visit www.dyingmatters.org for more information about Dying Matters awareness week.

A similar awareness event will take place on Friday 17 May 2013 at Ipswich Town Hall from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

 

imajaz can promote your web site every week!