Hospice at Home services in England: a national survey

Source: BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care 2021, (11): 454-460

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Date of publication: November 2021

Publication type: Research Article

In a nutshell: This research looks at the Hospice at Home services (HAH) which allows a patient to be cared for and die at home if that is their wish. This national 2017 survey looks at and compares the features of HAH services and help to highlight the key enablers to service provision.

Length of publication: 7 pages

Using Death Cafés as a method for discussing death and dying with third year student nurses

Source: International Journal of Palliative Nursing

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Date of publication: September 2021

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article explores the experiences of nursing students’ learning about death and dying facilitated by the use of Death Cafes. They provide a safe space where conversations and experiences of death and end of life can be shared.

Length of publication: 8 pages

New project launches in Somerset to help families have important end of life conversations

Source: Marie Curie

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Date of publication: May 2021

Publication type: Press Release

In a nutshell: A new service in partnership between Marie Curie and Somerset CCG, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Yeovil District Hospital have launched a three year project called the ‘Somerset Talk About Project’, to help and support people to have important conversations about death and dying.

Length of publication: 1 page

Together for Short Lives launches live chat for families feeling isolated

Source: eHospice

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Date of publication: November 2020

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: This news item provides details of a new live chat service being offered by Together for Short Lives. It has been created for families with terminally ill children who are worried about Covid-19. The service is an extension of the charity’s family helpline, run by professional staff to support parents and carers with the day-to-day struggles of looking after a child with complex medical needs.

Length of publication: 1 page

Hospice UK releases third edition of Care After Death guidance for professionals

Source: Hospice UK

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Date of publication: September 2020

Publication type: Guidance

In a nutshell: Hospice UK have now released a 3rd updated edition of the “Care after Death Guidance: for staff responsible for care after death.” It can be found by following the link above.

Length of publication: 47 pages

Birmingham hospice launches bereavement group for children and young people

Source: Hospice UK

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Date of publication: December 2019

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: St Mary’s Hospice in Birmingham has launched a bereavement support group called ‘Growing Together’ for children and young people. It is a peer support group for 4-18 year olds to help support them after a loved one has died.

Length of publication: 1 page

End of life care: strengthening choice

Source: Together for Short Lives

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Date of publication: October 2018

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This inquiry report from The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Children Who Need Palliative Care, examines the extent to which the government is meeting its end of life care choice commitment for the 40,000 babies, children and young people in England with life-limiting and life-limiting conditions.

Length of publication: 55 pages

Caring for patients nearing the end of life: A good practice guide

Source: Royal College of Surgeons

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Date of publication:

Publication type: Guidance

In a nutshell: This guidance provides advice and support for surgeons and surgical teams who need to communicate with patients who are approaching the end of their life. The guide covers:

• The steps surgeons can take to ensure that patients nearing the end of life experience a dignified death
• A framework for communication and decision making
• The important care planning documents in use at the end of life
• How to work together as a team to ensure high-quality end of life care

Length of publication: 36 pages

What role do death doulas play in end-of-life care? A systematic review

Source: Health & Social Care in the Community 2018; Sep 26. [Epub ahead of print]

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Date of publication: September 2016

Publication type: Systematic Review

In a nutshell: This systematic review explores the current literature surrounding the use of death doulas in end-of-life care and the potential implications for models of care delivery. This study highlights the lack of clarity and consistency in the role and the limited amount of formal academic studies.

Length of publication: 13 pages

Making peace with death: National attitudes to death, dying and bereavement

Source: Co-op Funeralcare

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Date of publication: August 2018

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This new report provides the results of a survey commissioned by the Co-op to understand national attitudes towards death, dying and bereavement and the ways in which people plan for death. The research reveals that almost 18 million people are uncomfortable talking about death, 4 million people have experienced financial hardship as a result of someone’s death and the average Brit first suffers a bereavement of someone close to them aged 20.

Length of publication: 14 pages

Learning from deaths: guidance for NHS trusts on working with bereaved families and carers

Source: NHS England

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Date of publication: July 2018

Publication type: Guidance

In a nutshell: This guidance advises trusts on how they should support, communicate and engage with families following a death of someone in their care. It sets out different stages following a death and calls on trusts to involve families throughout by providing bereavement support, signposting families to advice and advocacy support along with examples of how trusts are working with families and good practice guidance on specific subjects

Length of publication: 43 pages

 

Death in data: What happens at the end of life?

Source: BBC

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Date of publication: May 2018

Publication type:  News Item

In a nutshell: Scientists are expecting a spike in deaths in the coming years. As life expectancies increased, the number of people dying fell – but those deaths were merely delayed.

With people living longer, and often spending more time in ill-health, the Dying Matters Coalition wants to encourage people to talk about their wishes towards the end of their life, including where they want to die.

Length of publication: 1 Page

 

 

A road less lonely: Moving forward with public health approaches to death, dying and bereavement in Scotland

Source: ehospice

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Date of publication: April 2018

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: The Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care and Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief have published a report looking at how to encourage more supportive attitudes and behaviours relating to death, dying and bereavement in Scotland. It highlights a range of relevant projects that are improving people’s experiences of death, dying and bereavement.

Length of publication: 92 pages

 

St Clare Hospice launches three year strategy to reach more people

Source: ehospice

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Date of publication: February 2018

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: St Clare Hospice in Essex has announced the launch of a new organisational strategy to reach more people in the surrounding areas so that more people can access palliative care services.  The hospice also aims to help local communities to play a larger role in supporting each other to help reduce loneliness and social isolation.  The Compassionate Neighbours project is a network of trained volunteers who offer their time and support to people with a life-limiting illness or who are experiencing social isolation in their local area.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes: The Strategy can be found here and information relating to the Compassionate Neighbours project can be found here