‘Discussing the Unthinkable’ - end of life care conference

Shahid Mohammed at the Faith and BAME groups end of life care conference 2016

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Over 120 people attended an end of life care conference - ‘Discussing the Unthinkable’ - was held at KYP.

Conference organiser and founder of BME Health and Wellbeing, Shahid Mohammed explained: "We worked with several BAME user groups and community activists at a local level leading up to the conference to understand and explore the issues around end of life care within the south Asian and Muslim community in Rochdale, as this subject has never really been talked about.

"We also wanted to hear about whether or not the have made any decisions about their health or care, but crucially what they would do if they could no longer speak for themselves.

"The local communities and faith leaders must start talking about death and end of life care planning, as talking about it won’t make it happen."

The conference was facilitated by Maqsood Ahmad OBE (NHS manager), he said: “The only guarantee we have is that every one of us will die and death does not discriminate on the basis of colour, age, background, sex or any other characteristics.

"As part of our positive action initiative to engage with vulnerable groups we were pleased to work in partnership with BME Health & Wellbeing to discuss of the unthinkable.

"The partnership also provided an opportunity for us to share the experience faith groups through our through our eyes project at the event.

"My congratulations to Shahid and his team for organising such an excellent event and bringing people from the grass-roots together to share their views with NHS professionals.”

One of the speakers was Kim Wrigley, Quality Improvement Programme Lead for the Strategic Clinical Network (SCN). She gave an overview of the role of the Network and how it could support local communities.

Ms Wrigley said: “Death, dying and bereavement are probably the harshest experiences of our lives. However, placing these at the heart of communities to provide comfort and support to one another can only add value to the input from the health and social care system.

"In many respects death, dying and bereavement are social experiences and do not necessarily require medical intervention. Cultural and religious knowledge are fundamental to ensuring as good a death as possible within any community.”

At the conference Jane Ashworth, the Palliative Care Education Lead at Springhill Hospice, gave an overview of what local hospices could offer around pain and symptom control and how to access the bereavement service.

Dr Amir Hannan, a GP from Houghton Thornley Medical Centre, shared his personal story and experience of end of life care for a family member.

Shahid Mohammed added: "It became clear that engagement needs to take place with local groups on the sensitive and challenging topic of planning for end of life care, so that the wishes and preferences of the individual can be discussed.

"We heard during table discussions from community members and Health Professionals on why people’s wishes are not always achieved and how barriers can be overcome. If advance care planning is in place, people’s wishes are more likely to be achieved at the end of their life.

"There were a number issues raised during the conference which will be followed up with the setting up of a BAME End of Life Care Network.

"If anyone wishes to get involved please get in touch."