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Posted on 18 May 2015

The Trust is supporting Dying Matters Awareness Week from 18 – 24 May.

During the week, the Trust will be promoting Dying Matters' Talk, Plan, Live campaign in a bid to get people talking about dying, death and bereavement and planning for their end of life. Simple steps, such as making a will or documenting your funeral wishes, can make your end of life experience better, for you and your loved ones.

Bassetlaw Health Partnerships (BHP) and County Health Partnerships (CHP), both part of Nottinghamshire Healthcare, provide specialist palliative care for those with advanced cancer or long-term conditions at two hospices across Nottinghamshire:

BHP and Bassetlaw Hospice Charitable Trust work together to provide facilities at Bassetlaw Hospice, situated on the grounds of Retford Hospital.

Their inpatient unit has six en-suite bedrooms which offer short stays for symptom management and end of life care. The day patient unit offers facilities for up to 15 people, on a regular basis. Patients can access complementary therapy, diversional therapy and support from trained staff.  The teams also provide an Aromatherapy at Home service, for those who wish to stay in their own homes.

CHP and the John Eastwood Hospice Charitable Trust work in partnership to provide facilities at the John Eastwood Hospice, in Mansfield.

The team encourage patients to talk about their end of life plans and they do all that they can to ensure patients' wishes are met.

There are 12 inpatient beds which offer short stays for symptom control, respite care and final phase care. In addition, there are 15 places available for day hospice which adds to the care given in the community and often allows the patient to remain at home, maximising the care and support received.

Emma Roberts, CHP Specialist Palliative Care Services Manager, said:

“We are working in partnership with Sherwood Forest Hospitals to provide information, education and the opportunity to talk about end of life care, needs and the support available.

One of the areas we really want to increase awareness about is forward planning. Advance Care Planning gives people with progressive disease the opportunity to document and discuss their wishes and preferences with a health or social care provider to ensure individual needs are recognised and met.”

Approximately 500,000 people die in England, every year.  A recent survey by Dying Matters found that, whilst 68% of people said they were comfortable talking about death, less than a third (29%) have discussed their individual wishes around dying.

Find out more about Dying Matters Awareness Week: www.dyingmatters.org/YODO
Join the conversation on Twitter using #YODO (You Only Die Once)