Compassion in Dying

25/04/2024

The UK’s 1st national Advance Care Planning Day is taking place on Wednesday 8 May.

An Advance Care Plan (ACP) outlines your wishes about how you’d like to be cared for in the future.

Our Palliative Care team are running a conference at the John Innes Centre for healthcare professionals, organisations and the public.

You can raise awareness by visiting the website https://orlo.uk/1n7FU and

• Register as a supporter
• Make Advance Care Planning 'pledges' and sharing them on social media
• Add your own personal or work, Advance Care Planning stories and/or encourages others to do so
• Listen and share the series of six 'Getting your House in Order' podcasts

Find out more about the event: https://orlo.uk/4u8Wk

07/12/2023

We've just launched our end of year fundraising appeal. We're here to make recording your wishes simple and straightforward.

Help us provide people with the support they need, when they need it, to record their wishes.

We do things a bit differently here at Compassion in Dying. We believe a good life should include a good death. In a place you choose, with the people who matter. Having the care and treatments you want, and not the ones you don’t. We're here to make recording your wishes simple and straightforwar...

22/02/2023

📢 Today we launch our new brand and website.

We look different, our name is the same. But the important thing is what we say and what we do - focusing on amplifying the voices of the people we support.

Usha Grieve has written this blog which explains more.

Would love to know what you think!

This is the first in a series of blogs to share what we learnt through our journey of creating a clearer brand that speaks up for what people want and need at the end of life.

23/11/2022

Important new study looking to understand the effect of different doctor communication styles on patients. Have your say and help shape how future doctors might talk to patients.

It's being led by researchers at the University of Cambridge, link to take part below.

By watching two short videos and completing a survey you can help us to better understand and improve how doctors communicate about diagnosis.

21/09/2022

Our nurse-led information line supports many people with dementia. Planning ahead & thinking about practical things like advance decisions can be part of living well after diagnosis

We ask people what matters most when thinking about the end of their life...

06/09/2022

Rebecca had four cardiac arrests after being treated with chemotherapy for stage 3 bowel cancer.

Many people are surprised when she tells them about her experience and the reality of CPR.

10/08/2022

"They lost their battle with cancer."

How do you feel about war metaphors and cancer?

They make Liz O'Riordan angry.

03/08/2022

It’s about empowering people; helping them come to terms with their situation, speak to relatives and doctors, and plan next steps.

22/07/2022

Do you have experience of, or opinions about hospice care in the UK that you’d like to share?

University of Liverpool are researching equal access to inpatient hospice care in the UK and want to hear from you. If you have an experience to share, please click the link below:

https://liverpool.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/access-to-hospice-care-public-v2

07/07/2022

We're really pleased that our Sarah (our Clinical Lead and Services Manager) has been nominated for a Royal College of Nursing Patient’s Choice Award!

Voting has opened for those who'd like to support her. Here is the link to vote: https://secure.rcni.com/nurse-awards/patients-choice/vote/84

Sarah has often been described as a lifeline for people who feel as if they have nowhere else to turn. People who need help being heard and respected by a medical professional, she gives them the confidence and tools to speak up and be listened to.

She was humbled to be nominated by Elizabeth Pepper.

She'd helped Elizabeth ensure her husband had a good death as she's done for countless others.

Elizabeth said:

"When my husband wanted to write an advance decision, I could only cry. Sarah gently and empathetically reassured and guided us, patiently answering our questions and helping us arrive at a consensus, sharing vital information about what happens in death with enormous sensitivity. My husband got his advance decision and I could recognise that I was empowering him.

This document – and Sarah – gave me the backbone to make a stand. If he had gone to hospital it would have been a dreadful end of life as it was not the one he wanted and he had lost all control. Instead, he was able to die at home, just as he wanted to.

Recently, I have been reflecting on my own Advance Decision and, once again, I turn to Sarah for the insightfulness, empathy and endless patience she offers. She is so very worthy of recognition."

It would be so lovely to get this small token of recognition for her important work.

01/07/2022

We would like to wish the community a happy .

We’re here if you need support with planning ahead.

We can help make sure the important people in your life are involved in decisions if you’re not well, and what matters to you is known about.

Our free guide is here to help record your wishes for treatment and care in case you can’t make decisions for yourself.

Download here:https://compassionindying.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Planning-ahead-for-the-LGBT-community-WEB.pdf

29/06/2022

For Liz O'Riordan, the biggest factor in giving someone a beautiful death is when palliative care is introduced as early as possible.

Planning for our care means that those close to us will know how we want to be supported at the end of life.