Dying Matters Week
As part of Dying Matters Week we spoke to Consultant Fran Hakkak, Medical Director at Compton Care and Senior Responsible Officer for OneWolverhampton’s Palliative and End of Life Workstream. We talked about the work the partnership is doing to develop an End of Life Plan for the City and why it’s so important that we all take time to have conversations about what really matters when we or someone we love is nearing the end of life.
One key goal of the plan is to utilise technology to ensure people are being identified as early as possible in their end of life journey to enable more time for them to consider their needs and work with healthcare professionals to plan how these can be achieved.
“It’s really about giving people the space and permission to think about what matters most to them,” explains Fran. “For some, it’s really important to pursue every test or treatment option. For others that might be spending time with loved ones, staying at home, or just having peace and dignity in their final days. Everyone is different and the planning process should reflect that”.
Providing healthcare professionals with the right education and training is also a key part of the plan, to help them recognise when, and how to support those in their care in having open, honest conversations. Equally important is raising public awareness through initiatives like Dying Matters Week, which empowers individuals and communities to ask questions—both for themselves and their loved ones.
“Death is still a taboo subject,” Fran says. “People are often scared of upsetting loved ones or of facing their own mortality and even healthcare professionals sometimes wait for patients to bring it up, which can lead to no one saying anything at all.”
However, that can mean people don’t have the chance to make meaningful choices and it can leave loved ones unsure what to do and healthcare professionals without the clarity to provide truly personalised care.
“There’s a common fear that talking about death will somehow make it more likely to happen. But really, these conversations can give people peace of mind. If someone becomes too unwell to speak for themselves, having already shared their wishes makes a huge difference.”
This year’s Dying Matters theme ‘The Culture of Dying’ has placed a focus on how cultural and religious beliefs shape our views on death and dying.
“We’re incredibly diverse in Wolverhampton. Different communities have different traditions, rituals, and beliefs and even within those groups, individuals may approach things very differently,” Fran explains.
Using tools like the Health Equity Assessment Tool (HEAT) the partnership are ensuring that any plan put in place is culturally sensitive and insightful of the communities that live in the city and doesn’t simply reflect a “standard” approach that might only suit the majority.
“We’ve looked at how to tailor planning tools for different groups for example people with learning disabilities, or those who do not speak English, and we’re actively seeking feedback from diverse communities through our involvement teams across the partnership to make sure we aren’t missing anyone.”
When asked about the impact the partnership hope the plan will have for the citizens of Wolverhampton Fran was clear it was about having a joined up approach and ensuring people have the time to reflect, talk and plan. “We are building this plan in partnership—with GPs, hospital staff, palliative care teams, social care, care homes, community and voluntary groups and most importantly the citizens of Wolverhampton. Because when everyone is on the same page, the care people receive at the end of life is more coordinated, more compassionate, and ultimately, more meaningful.”