Dealing with loss (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Dealing with loss

12:00pm Wednesday 9th May 2012 in News By Claire Lomax

PLAN: Jo Coombs, of NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds

People in the Bradford district are being encouraged to talk to family, friends and loved ones about their wishes for the end of their lives, including where they want to die and their funeral plans.

The call comes from health and support organisations in Bradford and Airedale who are joining other members of the Dying Matters Coalition for a week of action which starts on Monday.

As part of the awareness week, called Small Actions, Big Difference, there will a chance for people to visit information stalls and talk to staff from the NHS end of life care team at shopping centres in Bradford and Keighley.

The Dying Matters Coalition has been set up by the National Council for Palliative Care to raise awareness of death, dying and bereavement and provide the support and information needed to have these conversations with loved ones.

It aims to help make dying well a natural part of a good life and through this help change attitudes and behaviours towards end of life issues and raise the profile and improve end of life care.

Jo Coombs, director of quality and nursing at NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds, said: “Death is the one certainty in our lives, yet few of us discuss or plan for this. By discussing death and dying, people can make their wishes felt and help their loved ones at a distressing time.

“In Bradford and Airedale we have a strong partnership of palliative care support which helps a wide range of patients who may have less than a year to live. We work with terminally-ill patients suffering from any conditions, including cancer, and aim to treat them and their families and carers with dignity, care and compassion as they approach death.”

Bradford and Airedale’s end of life care programme works with communities and health and social care professionals to give people who are dying the best possible care.

Information stalls will be at Kirkgate Shopping Centre, Bradford, from 11am to 4pm on Thursday, May 17 and at Airedale Shopping Centre, Keighley, from 11am to 4pm, on Friday, May 18.

More information on next week’s events is available at dyingmatters.org