Playing our part in end of life and palliative care
In a bid to help BCHC shape the future of palliative and end of life care, colleagues came together at Aston University to creatively explore what matters most to our patients, their loved ones, and our workforce.
Drawing on real patient and family experiences, The Geese Theatre Company acted out a series of thought-provoking performances. These short scenes invited BCHC colleagues to pause, reflect on the care they provide, and consider what they might do differently to enhance the experience for patients and families at the end of life.
Sharon Hudson, Head of Palliative Care and Bereavement Services, alongside Dr Jed Jerwood PhD, FRSA, Advanced Clinical Academic Art Psychotherapist at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham worked with teams to explore what 'good end of life care' truly looks like. Colleagues were encouraged to openly share their wisdom, experiences and hopes to create the service they want to be able to deliver in the future.
Sharon shared:
“The day was really positive, and we received some feedback saying it was the best event staff had ever attended. Colleagues also told us how much they valued having the opportunity to contribute to change in such a meaningful way.”
Feedback gathered throughout the day will be used to help shape BCHC's wider end of life care strategy across Birmingham, ensuring teams are equipped with the right support, skills, and resources to deliver the very best care to our local communities.
Death and dying can be difficult topics to talk about, but they don't have to be. If you or a loved one would like to share your feedback of palliative or end of life care at BCHC, please email sharon.hudson20@nhs.net.