The end of our story is an important part of our story and we have one chance to get it right. I’m delighted to have set up a group of End of Life Care champions to break the taboo around this subject in Reading and get this necessary conversation started. We’ve got representatives from Reading Borough Council, Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Groups, Citizens Advise Bureau, Duchess of Kent House, the Alzheimer Society, Berkshire Health Foundation Trust, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Berkshire Carers Service, Reading Voluntary Action, Jasmine House Nursing Home, Cruse and Walkers Funeral Directors.
We are appealing for people to come forward and share their expertise and views to help us identify how people’s experience of death can be improved. Ultimately, we hope that by bringing together people we can ensure consistent, dignified care is available in Reading, as well as enable people to consider their preferences for the end of their lives.
Get in touch if you would like to get involved, extract from the council press release is below:
A GROUP of End of Life Champions, led by Reading Borough Council, are driving a project to improve end of life care in the borough, through better integration, collaboration and communication.
Following a call to action and a Reading steering group meeting in November, the group is now calling on people to come forward with evidence.
The group would like to hear from individuals, families and community groups, as well as organisations and professionals with an interest in end of life care; such as doctors, health care professionals, funeral directors, lawyers and spiritual and faith groups.
The appeal is for people to share their experiences, both good and bad, help identify gaps in end of life care, as well as contribute ideas and preferences.
The aim will be to map local services, communicate key messages and develop services within nationally recognised frameworks.
The Reading Borough Council steering group is working towards an event to coincide with National Dying Matters Awareness Week 2016 in May under the theme ‘The Big Conversation’.
If you have an interest in this area and would like to get involved in shaping the future of end of life care and support in Reading, or if you would like to be regularly updated on the progress of the group, contact Jan Caulcutt on 0118 937 3358 or 07834 801338 or email Jan.Caulcutt@Reading.gov.uk
ENDS
Notes for Editors: The steering group includes representatives from:
Reading Borough Council, Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Groups, Citizens Advise Bureau, Duchess of Kent House, the Alzheimer Society, Berkshire Health Foundation Trust, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Berkshire Carers Service, Reading Voluntary Action, Jasmine House Nursing Home, Cruse and Walkers Funeral Directors.
The group is working with the following key messages in mind:
- Break the Taboo: Encourage people to think ahead, share their preferences and talk openly about all aspects of dying.
- Achieve a ‘Good’ Death: Take a person-centred approach with the individual’s priorities guiding all decisions and actions.
- A Holistic Approach: Provide care through integrated working, with professional collaboration to ensure timely, seamless support through a single point of contact.
- Clear Communication: Take account of the circumstances, needs and abilities of the person and their carers, with clear and sensitive communication.
- Support for All: Value and understand everyone’s role, contribution and feelings, including support in bereavement.
