It is a topic that no one wants to have to think about but sadly at some point we will all have to – talking and planning for the end of life.
Dying Matters Awareness Week 2017, which takes place from May 8-14, is an unparalleled opportunity to place the importance of talking about dying, death and bereavement firmly on the national agenda.
This year the theme is ‘What Can You Do?’ which aims to get people more active in planning for dying and death and helping support those who may need it in times of grief and bereavement, be they friends, family or in their wider community.
Each year this Trust gets involved in this important week of awareness and 2017 is set to be the biggest yet with a range of events going on across our hospitals and community services.
On Monday 8, Wednesday 10 and Friday 12 May between 9am and 4pm the ‘Time to Chat’ café will be open at the top of the escalators on the first floor of Heartlands Hospital’s main entrance allowing people the chance to talk and ask questions about the end of life over tea and cake.
The team will also be raising money at the cafes which will go towards the charity appeal for the planned Joan Whitelaw Reminiscence Room at Heartlands and Macmillan Cancer Support.
There will also be stalls in the same area all week with information and advice from the Trust, but also organisations such as John Taylor Hospice, local nursing homes and funeral directors.
One of the main attractions during the week will be a giant pledge tree that will be erected. Visitors, staff and patients will have the opportunity to attach their ‘Before I die…’ pledge to the tree.
Then on the Saturday (May 5) the team will be at the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) in Cannon Hill Park to showcase what they have done throughout the week with a special display.
Meanwhile to raise awareness in the local community and to help people cope with dying, death and bereavement, the Trust’s Macmillan CNS Palliative Care Team and the Marie Curie Hospice West Midlands have organised a range of events during Dying Matters Awareness Week which are listed below:
8-12 May – JOE & THE JUICE – Touchwood Solihull – ‘Before I die wall’
8 May – 2.30pm – 4pm – Swallows Meadow Nursing Home – resident and family session to meet the Macmillan team and discuss ‘Your life and your choices’
8 May – 9.30am – 4.30pm – You + Shop Coppice Way, Chelmsley Wood, B37 5TX – ‘Before I die wall’ and ‘Ask a Macmillan Nurse’
9 May – 12pm – 3pm – Swan Shopping Centre, 20 Church Road, Birmingham, B25 8UJ – ‘Before I die wall and ‘Ask Marie Curie’
9 May – 2:30pm – 4pm – Birchmere Nursing Home – resident and family session to meet the Macmillan team and discuss ‘Your life and your choices’
10 May – 2.30pm – 4pm – The Royal Star and Garter Nursing Home – resident and family session to meet the Macmillan team and discuss ‘Your life and your choices’
11 May – 12pm – 3pm – Swan Shopping Centre, 20 Church Road, Birmingham, B25 8UJ – ‘Before I die wall and ‘Ask Marie Curie’
11 May – 2.30pm – 4pm – The Priory Nursing Home – resident and family session to meet the Macmillan team and discuss ‘Your life and your choices’
12 May – 6pm – 7pm – Café Nero, Mell Square, Solihull – Death Café
8-12 May – ‘Ask a Macmillan Nurse’ your local Macmillan team will be available at the following GP Surgery’s – Look out for posters in your GP practice with times and dates:
- Dorridge Surgery
- GPS Healthcare Tanworth Lane Surgery
- GPS Healthcare Meadowside
- Shirley Medical Centre
- Hobs Moat Medical Centre
- Bosworth Medical Centre
8-12 May – Local Schools across Solihull and Birmingham will post in their newsletters to raise awareness
8-12 May – Marie Curie Hospice, Solihull – Dying Matters Awareness Information Board on site all week
