This collaboration is between our members The Prince of Wales Hospice, Age UK and Wakefield Hospice, along with Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust and The Kirkwood Hospice.

The collective effort is in support of Dying Matters Awareness Week, organised by Hospice UK, which takes place from 6 to 12 May 2024. The annual campaign is dedicated to creating a culture in which people are comfortable talking about death, dying and grief.

This year’s theme is ‘The way we talk about Dying Matters’. This focuses on the specific language that is used to talk about death and dying, especially between patients and their carers, families and healthcare professionals. By tackling taboos, confusion and a lack of confidence in discussing death and dying, the campaign aims to create a better end of life care for those with terminal illnesses.

To share information on this subject, and to give the public an opportunity to talk about it with healthcare professionals, the group of organisations will be running pop-up stalls throughout the week and are keen for people to come along and learn more about the language used around death and dying. The stalls will be at the following times and places:

• Tuesday 7 May, 10 am – 3 pm: Pontefract Hospital Foyer
• Wednesday 8 May, 10 am – 3pm: Dewsbury and District Hospital Foyer
• Thursday 9 May, 10 am -12pm: Castleford Indoor Market Hub, Unit 7
• Thursday 9 May, 10 am: The Ridings Shopping Centre, Wakefield, first floor
• Friday 10 May, 6 pm – 8 pm: Wheldon Road (Castleford Tigers ground)
• Friday 10 May, 10 am – 3pm:  Pinderfields Hospital Foyer
• Saturday 11 May, 10 am – 12pm: Junction 32 Shopping Outlet

Speaking about the collaboration, Steph Gillis, Director of Clinical Services at the Prince of Wales Hospice, said: “It’s great that we have been able to partner with other local organisations to share information about the Dying Matters campaign.

“Often, families, friends, and carers may not be confident in discussing issues around death, so equipping people with the language to do this will tackle taboos and make talking about death less daunting for us all.”

To find out more about the Dying Matters campaign, visit www.hospiceuk.org

Please share this news with anyone you think might be interested and support this fantastic work!