Raising awareness of Dying Matters week – small actions to make a big difference
To raise awareness of Dying Matters week South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is asking people to consider their attitudes to death, dying and bereavement.
Dying Matters Awareness week runs from 14th – 20th May and this year’s theme is ‘Small Actions, Big Difference’. The week aims to encourage people to be more open about dying and take small actions such as writing a will, signing up to become an organ donor or looking out for those who have been recently bereaved, which will help make a big difference to ensuring people can live well and die well.
The awareness week is organised by the Dying Matters Coalition, a national coalition of more than 15,000 members, which aims to change public knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards death, dying and bereavement.
To ensure staff from local health and social care providers can support people who are experiencing dying or bereavement, the Trust’s End of Life team in Barnsley plan, develop and co-ordinate systems to ensure that service providers recognise and deliver high quality end of life care; local services are developed in line with evidence based practice; and that there is easily accessible support for patients and carers to access.
Janet Owen, clinical lead for the End of Life care team said, "The care and support given to people approaching the end of their life can often be the most challenging that a health or social care professional provides. One of our main roles is to support staff to put practices in place that will improve the quality of care and support patients and their families are given at the end of life. "
"Dying matters awareness week is an opportunity for us to raise awareness of end of life matters and encourage not only those who work in our services but also members of the public to consider their attitudes to death and bereavement and highlight where they can go for support should they need it."
To find out more about the awareness week, get involved in activities planned or the work of the Dying Matters coalition visit www.dyingmatters.org
