A Banbury hospice is encouraging people to talk about death and dying as part of a national bid to improve palliative care.
Healthcare staff at Katharine House Hospice are joining forces with hospices across the country to enable more open discussions as part of the Dying Matters campaign from May 6-12.
This year's focus is the language used in conversations about death and terminal illness, particularly between healthcare professionals, patients, carers, and relatives.
To stimulate discussion, Katharine House's community team recently held a symposium for palliative care staff to explore how they talk about death and dying, specifically to children, and how families of terminally ill patients can be better supported.
As part of the campaign, Katharine House is drawing attention to its online resources, designed to answer questions for those diagnosed with a terminal illness or their loved ones.
The End-of-life and Palliative Care resources include information on supporting children, dealing with grief in the workplace, prioritising wellbeing, understanding available benefits, and what to expect when someone is dying.
Mary Walding, lead specialist nurse for palliative care for Katharine House and Sobell House Hospices said talking about death with loved ones is never easy, but having honest and transparent conversations about death and dying could help people feel informed, supported and empowered.
She said: "The more we talk about death, the less scary it is – it happens to us all and we can’t avoid it.
"But those people whose relatives have been able to say the important things they want to say can die more peacefully and their relatives always have those words to remember."
She continued: "I would never say ‘let’s talk about death’ but I would listen for what people are telling me.
"I might ask ‘what’s most important to you?’ and see where the conversation leads us."
“Talking about dying won’t make it happen, won’t make it happen faster, but it will allow people the chance to say what is important."
Katharine House Hospice supports people affected by life-limiting illnesses, from their diagnosis to the end of their life.
They provide holistic care that considers the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of a patient and their family.
The hospice said it aims to help people make the most of the time they have left and create quality memories with their loved ones.
To find out more about Katharine House Hospice and the support it offers to people at the end of their lives and their families, visit its website. or to find out more about the national Dying Matters campaign, visit its website.
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