Local people urged to discuss end of life care

Local people have been urged to have conversations around their end of life wishes as the Western Trust marks Palliative Care Week this week.
By Brendan McDaid
Published 15th Sep 2020, 09:08 BST
The Western Trust is supporting the 7th annual Palliative Care Week (13-19 September 2020) facilitated by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care from left to right: Collette McCullagh, Macmillan Palliative Care Occupational Therapist; Marie Donnell, Palliative Care Facilitator; Professor Max Watson, Palliative Medicine Consultant; Emma King, Macmillan Specialist Team Manager; Neil Beacom, Clerical Officer, Palliative Team; Ann McSorley, Macmillan Palliative Care Dietitian and John McGarvey, Assistant Director responsible for Specialist Palliative Care Services.The Western Trust is supporting the 7th annual Palliative Care Week (13-19 September 2020) facilitated by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care from left to right: Collette McCullagh, Macmillan Palliative Care Occupational Therapist; Marie Donnell, Palliative Care Facilitator; Professor Max Watson, Palliative Medicine Consultant; Emma King, Macmillan Specialist Team Manager; Neil Beacom, Clerical Officer, Palliative Team; Ann McSorley, Macmillan Palliative Care Dietitian and John McGarvey, Assistant Director responsible for Specialist Palliative Care Services.
The Western Trust is supporting the 7th annual Palliative Care Week (13-19 September 2020) facilitated by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care from left to right: Collette McCullagh, Macmillan Palliative Care Occupational Therapist; Marie Donnell, Palliative Care Facilitator; Professor Max Watson, Palliative Medicine Consultant; Emma King, Macmillan Specialist Team Manager; Neil Beacom, Clerical Officer, Palliative Team; Ann McSorley, Macmillan Palliative Care Dietitian and John McGarvey, Assistant Director responsible for Specialist Palliative Care Services.

Facilitated by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care, this year’s campaign is centred on raising awareness of the difference palliative care can make to people with life-limiting conditions, carers and families throughout Ireland.

Palliative care ensures that a person with a serious and progressive life limiting condition, regardless of age or disease has the best possible quality of life, which involves the management of pain and symptoms and providing social, emotional and spiritual support.

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John McGarvey, Assistant Director for Intermediate Care and Rehabilitation, Western Trust said: “This year’s theme ‘Palliative Care: In This Together’ reflects these extraordinary times, where the community response to Covid-19 has been remarkable, supporting wider members of the community but it has also demonstrated the range of supports mobilized by health and social care professionals, to help people with palliative care needs and their loved ones to live as well as possible.

“We want people to have a better understanding of palliative care, so if the need arises for themselves or someone close to them, they will feel able to discuss it with their loved ones and health professionals.”

Dr Conn Haughey, Macmillan Consultant in Palliative Medicine and Clinical Lead in Western Trust said: “Palliative Care is not just for people with advanced cancer but also for people living with advanced heart or lung disease, kidney failure and other conditions such as motor neurone disease or dementia.

“We might need to remain socially distant for some time to come but we can still feel close to our family and friends by having conversations about things like palliative care and understanding each other’s future care wishes.”

To find out more information about Palliative Care visit the website: www.thepalliativehub.com

Related topics:Western TrustIrelandCovid-19