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Our next Members’ Event will take place on 18 March between 13:30 – 16:00 in the Education Centre at the Freeman Hospital.
‘Death is just another path, one that we all must take’
We know that talking about end of life care is really difficult, but in Newcastle Hospitals we always strive to improve the experience of our patients and their Families, even when that involves having difficult conversations. For this Members’ Event, our Governors have chosen to hold a gentle, informative discussion on Palliative and End of Life Care; what it is, how you can prepare and the options and support available. We know that this is a sensitive topic, but our hope is that we can provide a supportive environment in which our Members can think about how they want to ‘write their own ending’, what plans can start to be put into place, and having conversations that will encourage others to do the same.
At the event, we will hear from our knowledgeable Palliative and End of Life Care Service, who operate in both acute and community settings. They will talk about what End of Life care is and share some of their experiences. We will then hear from members of our Macmillan Support Centre Team who will explain the more practical aspects of End of Life care and provide some excellent resources that you can access. Finally, our Chaplains will discuss the different support systems available and offer an open ‘Ask a Chaplain’ discussion, to allow our Members to ask any questions about their service.
We would like our Members to shape the conversation for this very personal subject, so if you have any specific aspects of this area that you would like to cover, please let us know when registering your interest and we will do our best to address it during the event, or we will have someone in attendance who can speak to you about it.
For those who are concerned that the topic will become too difficult, we will set up a break-out area with additional refreshments, where you can take time out from the discussion if needed.
The programme is as follows:
13:30 – Refreshments – Tea, coffee and water*
13:55 – Welcome by Professor Kath McCourt, Interim Chair of Newcastle Hospitals.
Introduction Judy Carrick, Chair of the People, Engagement and Membership (PEM) Working Group / Deputy Lead Governor for Newcastle Hospitals.
14:10 Introduction: What is Palliative Care?
Dr Alexa Clark – Palliative Care Consultant
Representatives from our Palliative Care Service will give you a brief introduction to Palliative Care at Newcastle Hospitals and offer some examples of care they have provided.
14:25 CHIPS: Children’s Holistic Integrated Palliative Service
Dr Helen Aspey – Consultant Paediatrician, Paediatric Palliative Care
Dr Aspey will talk about the important work of the Children’s Palliative Care service and the support that it provides for families across the North East.
14:35 Discussion: You will be invited to think about what images and circumstances come to mind when phrases such as ‘Palliative Care’ and ‘End of Life’ are used, and to reflect on your own experiences.
14:50 Planning ahead: Preparing yourself and your loved ones
Mrs Jill Davison – Macmillan Support Centre Manager
Mrs Davison from the Macmillan Information Centre in Newcastle Hospitals will discuss what it means to plan ahead and some of the things you may want to think about, such as; writing a Will, setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and having discussions with loved ones about your wishes.
Discussion: Members are invited to discuss plans that they currently have in place and reflect on how much they have shared with their family. We will reflect on why planning ahead is so difficult to talk about but so important, and what could help us all feel more open about sharing our end of life wishes.
15:20 You are not alone: Support at End of Life
Chaplaincy Team
Representatives from our chaplaincy team will speak about their work supporting patients and families at end of life, from prayer and care at the bedside through to care in the Chapel of Rest.
Discussion: Members will have the opportunity to “Ask a Chaplain anything”, discussing any questions they might have about end of life care with our multi faith team, in an open and safe space.
15:50 Summary and closing reflections by Ms Jill Baker, Non-Executive Director and Palliative Care Lead.
An invitation to stay for refreshments and to chat with our Governors, Non-Executive Directors and Chair. There will also be representatives from all of the teams we have heard from today and a number of charities who you may wish to speak to.
*Please note that unfortunately we are unable to provide food at the Members’ Events.
If you would like to attend the event, please call us on freephone 0800 015 0136 or email your name, address and telephone number to: [email protected].
We also update our website regularly and post daily on our social media platforms – X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram – all of which can be found @NewcastleHosps. All you need to do is ‘Like’ and ‘Follow’ us, and then join in the conversation!
