• Dying Matters Week is an opportunity to raise awareness of death, loss and grief
As part of Dying Matters Awareness Week (6 - 12 May 2024), Newham Council is working together with its partners to continue educating and encouraging residents to learn more about dying, grief and plans for end-of-life care.
In support of the wider national campaign led by Hospice UK, which is aimed at encouraging conversations around different aspects of death and bereavement, Newham Council will be holding an information stall outside Stratford Mall (opposite Starbucks) on Wednesday 8 May, from 10am-3pm. Residents will be able to speak to professional advisors about bereavement support, advanced care support, the MyWishes digital support platform, as well as other resources available in Newham.
Councillor Neil Wilson, Cabinet member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “It is so important to talk to family, friends, relatives and loved ones about individual wishes for end-of-life care. Dying Matters Awareness Week is an opportunity for communities across the UK to get the conversation started.
“We know right now people are dying without the emotional and practical support they need. By continuing to educate Newham residents, we can aid the vital work being done across the UK to increase awareness of planning for the end of life. This will also ensure the health and care system can support people at this important stage of their lives.
“If you have been affected by death, dying or bereavement, we want you to know there is help and support available and having open and honest conversations can make a huge difference.”
The council is working with NHS North East London ICB, St Joseph’s Hospice, Compassion in Dying, Newham New Deal Partnership and Subco Trust.
Previous work delivered around Dying Matters featured targeted educational sessions with local communities to help raise awareness around advanced care planning, including work with the South Asian, African Caribbean and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as autistic people and those with learning disabilities.
Newham has a multidisciplinary End of Life Care Programme, responsible for identifying and introducing key areas of improvement. It supports those approaching the end of their life, as well as their families and professionals offering support.
Additional support also includes MyWishes, a website that helps residents to document their hopes and plans for their care. MyWishes supports residents to record their dying wishes and share them with their loved ones and carers. Residents can create an Advance Statement and Will, highlighting what they would like to happen to both their physical and digital estate, develop a bucket list and leave ‘goodbye messages’ assigned to specific dates and times in the future.
For more information about Dying Matters, visit www.newham.gov.uk/dyingmattersweek2024.
For more information about MyWishes, visit www.newham.gov.uk/health-adult-social-care/palliative-end-life-care/2.