Around 70 colleagues from across CHFT, Locala, Calderdale and Greater Huddersfield CCGs, local Hospices and charities came together on the 4th of April to an inaugural event to look at the Trust’s new End of Life Care Strategy and discuss how to enhance and embed excellent end of life care services across our area.
Brendan Brown, Executive Director of Nursing opened the event followed by Dr Mary Kiely (Lead Clinician for Palliative Care).
Brendan, said: " Everybody has the right to receive quality care in the last hours and days of life. The event established a system-wide commitment to ensure this happens.
"I was humbled by the energy, passion and commitment generated from everyone at the event, which bought together teams from CHFT, and our partners in health, social care, volunteering and independent sectors. The event enabled discussions and forward planning to ensure end of life care is co-ordinated, timely and equitable across Calderdale and Huddersfield.
It was expertly facilitated by our colleagues Ruth Mason and Janet Youd. Colleagues worked together and discussed what excellent end of life care should look like and then went on to develop action plans for key areas that need addressing.
End of Life Care facilitator, Gillian Sykes, added: “The morning was fantastic. The room was vibrant with colleagues sharing ideas around end of life care. I’m really looking forward to planning the next steps.”
All the information gained from the day and will be forwarded to Task and Finish groups to focus on the key areas for development that were identified.
The plan is to work collaboratively with our partners to improve end of life care across primary and secondary care and within the voluntary sector and local authorities for patients, families, carers and staff.
If you would like any more information or to be involved with the work groups, please contact Gillian Sykes on 07766775551 or email on Gillian.sykes@cht.nhs.uk
The strategy is available on the Trust intranet in clinical tools under the end of life care icon. Or access it here.