Dying Matters Week

16 May 2011

16th - 22nd May 2011 was National 'Dying Matters' Awareness Week, a week-long campaign organised by the Dying Matters Coalition to encourage people to talk openly about dying, death and bereavement.

The Hospice supported the week with a range of public awareness raising, educational and community events including:

• an event for school teachers on how to tackle the important subject of death and dying by linking it into the national curriculum
• an event to celebrate the work of local care home staff and their co-workers in improving care for care home residents who are at the end of life
• an Advance Care Planning course for health and social care professionals with one attendee saying: “I feel empowered to go and be part of helping patients write Advance Care Plans in the future.”
• ‘Dying Matters’ bus at Broadway, Bexleyheath to promote public awareness around death and dying.  A team from the Hospice and Bexley Primary Care Trust were on hand to give out information and support to anyone who wanted to talk about any issues around death or dying.  “I won't cross the road to avoid a bereaved neighbour anymore”, said one visitor.
• a 'Speed Dating' style networking event was held at the Hospice with one attendee saying, "It's great to know how people feel and what people want before the inevitable happens."
• a talk to consultants at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich about end of life care
• and finally a focus on ‘Dying Matters’ at Stepping Stones, the Hospice's twice monthly drop in service for patients, carers and bereaved people.

“The Awareness Week events at the Hospice and out in the community prompted professionals, patients, carers and the public to consider some of life's important questions,” said Kate Heaps, Hospice Chief Executive.  “By raising public awareness we can really make a difference to those who are affected by death and dying.”

According to the Dying Matters Coalition, two thirds of people agree that people in Britain are uncomfortable discussing death and dying.

The Hospice is one of 15,000 members of the Dying Matters Coalition. It is the mission of the coalition to promote awareness and support changing knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards dying, death and bereavement, and through this to make a ‘good death’ the norm.

Further details can be found on the 'Dying Matters' website by clicking here  

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