Issues facing hospices across the UK...

I know that many of us will be aware of the issues facing hospices across the UK, after what has been one of the most challenging years for the palliative care sector. Helping our local hospices, where we can, and joining in the conversations about death and dying are all ways we can support the vital work of the hospice movement.

Karen Murphy, President of the Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains, says, “Hospice and palliative care has continued to support patients and families over the past year, but under difficult and challenging circumstance to keep everyone safe.” Karen, who is also Chaplain and Spiritual Lead, Weston Hospicecare, goes on to say that, “Sadly along the way , I am aware of at least 9 hospice chaplaincy posts lost during the pandemic due to financial constraints. As hospices are usually independent charities, fund raising and giving generally ground to a halt, requiring hospices to looks at financial priorities. It was greatly saddening to hear of these losses which will have a significant impact on patient care and support. The Association of Hospice and Palliaitive care Chaplains has been involved in a European study of chaplaincy activity during the pandemic and the finding are now available in The Journal of Pastoral Care and Counselling. The study demonstrates just how hard chaplaincy has worked to support so many people, and how integral our work is to the whole team.”

Perhaps you could get in touch with the hospice in your area and find out how you can help - maybe through volunteering, making donations of items to one of their shops or by giving a financial donation or through joining in one of their fundraising events. I have been able to pass on some nearly new clothes and great books to the Dorothy House Hospice shop in my town and do some fundraising for the Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice where my friend works as a chaplain. I wonder what you could do?

We are sharing this news as part of the Awareness Week for Dying Matters ‘being in a good place to die’ - there are all sorts of support materials and resources to help us to think about and talk about palliative care and supporting the bereaved which you can download HERE.

(photo above from Dying Matters resource pack and cover photo courtesy of Bret Kavanaugh at Unsplash)

"Talking about death is a taboo subject that people shy away from or feel anxious about..."

“Talking about death is a taboo subject that people shy away from or feel anxious about", says our Secretary for Healthcare Chaplaincy, Mark Newitt. This is something that is often all too true, so the Hospice UK led coalition of organisations (Dying Matters) encourage us to take part in an Awareness Week, during this week, to help to raise the profile of Dying Matters; they want to enable us to have the confidence and courage to start conversations with those in our families and churches and for those we minister to.

“Dying Matters Awareness Week is a fantastic opportunity to open up the conversation around death, dying and bereavement and I encourage you to look at the resources available on the Dying Matters website.”

— says Rev Dr Mark Newitt, Secretary for Healthcare Chaplaincy, Free Churches

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VITAL WORK OF DYING MATTERS AND

HOW TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DEATH AND DYING

An introduction to Dying Matters Awareness Week - 10-16 May 2021

Each year, the Hospice UK led coalition of organisations, Dying Matters, encourage us to get involved in an Awareness Week in May, for families, churches, groups and networks to get involved with. The theme is different each year - for example, last year it was ‘Dying to be heard’. This year the theme is ‘Being in a good place to die’ and seeks to raise awareness and start conversations about how and where we end our days. It is a chance for coalition partners, organisations and individuals to come together and open up the conversation around death, dying and bereavement.

The resources and support materials are available for us to access all year round, but the Awareness Week helps to give us a special time to focus on these important matters. There is a lot of support for the work of Dying Matters from across many different groups, carers, chaplains and healthcare professionals, especially those working in the field of palliative care.

Karen Murphy, President of the Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains, offers us a thought-provoking and timely update on the challenges and opportunities in the support and spiritual care of the dying and the bereaved, “Hospice and palliative care has continued to support patients and families over the past year, but under difficult and challenging circumstance to keep everyone safe. Chaplaincy teams have played a major role in the Covid 19 response to ensuring people have access to quality spiritual care.”

Karen goes on to say that, “Dying Matters Week is an opportunity to be thankful for spiritual care teams around the country who have been part of wider teams in palliative care, supporting staff as well as patients and their families.”

You can download lots of free resources to help you, your church and your family start conversations about death and dying, which we know is a difficult topic to know how to broach - we hope and pray that during this Awareness Week, you will feel encouraged and enabled to being these conversations and work towards helping those we love or those we minister to to be ‘in a good place to die’.

ACCESS THE RESOURCES HERE

(photo above and cover photo from the Dying Matters Awareness Week 2021 Resource Pack)

Prayerfully preparing for Dying Matters Awareness Week 2021 - taking place all next week

Many of you will already be aware of the Hospice UK movement. Well, they are the lead organisation, with a group of coalition partners, who support Dying Matters; next week is the Awareness Week - on the theme of ‘Being in a good place to die’.

Over the course of the coming week, through our FCG website and social media channels, we will be sharing with you a range of poignant and timely reflections linked with the vital work of Dying Matters, brought to us by chaplains in healthcare and palliative care settings. There will be the chance to have access to helpful and sensitively produced resources, films, books and other support materials.

Please do check out the news page in the coming days; we hope and pray that the content shared will be an encouragement to us all. We are working alongside Dying Matters to help to create an open culture that talks about death, dying and bereavement. Dying matters to all of us - so let's talk about it.

Thank you for taking part in Dying Matters Awareness Week 2021.

This year, we are focusing on the importance of ‘being in a good place to die’.

“Dying Matters believes in an open culture that talks about  death, and where people feel able to listen and support those  who are planning for end of life, who are dying and who have  been bereaved.
The lack of openness in society has affected the quality and range of support and care services available to patients and families. 
It has also affected our ability to die where or how we would wish. We want to break the stigma, challenge preconceptions and normalise public openness around death, dying and bereavement.”

— says Dying Matters

(cover photo by Priscilla Du Preez at Unsplash and photo above from Dying Matters Resources)

"O God who longs to make us whole..." hymn words written by a hospital chaplain

O God who longs to make us whole in body, spirit, mind is the opening line of the hymn written in 1998 by the retired URC minister and chaplain, Revd Michael Forster. The hymn was originally written to mark the 50th anniversary of the NHS, the words of which are poignant and apt to share in these times too. In fact, verse 3 was added in 2021 to recognise the efforts and courage of many people, in addition to those in the NHS, who have served during the pandemic…

May it be a blessing, an encouragement and an inspiration to us in these times and in all times. Amen

1 O God who longs to make us whole in body, spirit, mind,
we praise you for the hopes and dreams you share with humankind:
for those in pow’r whom you inspired to share the nation’s wealth,
that rich and poor alike might know security and health.

2 We give you thanks for those who strive that knowledge might increase;
for all in office, ward or home whose efforts never cease;
for those who give of wealth or self, who care or who campaign,
and all who bravely watch and wait to share your people’s pain;

3* for those in countless walks of life who daily work and strive
to keep each other safe and well, and help the weak to thrive;
for those who go beyond the call in myriad other ways,
and keep alive the light of hope in dark and cheerless days.

4 O give us grace to trust your love when hope remains concealed,
to watch and pray beside the ones who are not swiftly healed.
And grant us faith, when death itself provides its own release,
to trust in your undying love to give them perfect peace.

5 Give us, O God, your loving zeal to comfort, heal and save,
to care for one another ‘from the cradle to the grave’.
Then north to south, and east to west, let love and hope extend,
until the universe is whole and justice knows no end.

Michael Forster (B 1946)
© 1998 & 2021 Michael Forster

Tune: Kingsfold – English traditional melody collected by Lucy Broadwood (1858-1929)
The text may be reproduced royalty-free for use in worship, as long as authorship and copyright are acknowledged, no alterations are made and this authorisation is printed in full on all copies.

(cover photo courtesy of Markus Spiske at Unsplash)