Good Endings Event, Leeds

Healthwatch Leeds attended the event aimed at bringing together and sharing as many different viewpoints and experiences about what a good death would look like.

Around 50 people, a mixture of volunteers and people who provide end of life services and support, attended the event. A funeral director shared experiences of supporting individuals and families from a range of cultural backgrounds. This was followed by presentation on the range of services, support and choices available in the Leeds area.

Staff from a local hospice delivered a role play about shared understandings and language between relatives and professionals followed by a workshop on good communication and best provision of support when people know that they are dying.

A number of key points resulted from the workshop and are listed.

The afternoon workshop allowed for the collection of end of life care in a meaningful way. Five questions were considered by the workshop groups. Results will be used by service providers to design their new survey with the aim of hearing from more families and reaching all of the population.

A summary of last year’s bereavement survey will be available early in 2018 which will be shared with all health and care commissioners as well as the palliative care network.