Thanks for support from Dying Matters

With hundreds of members in the local area, and more than 13,800 across England, we are starting to transform our society’s culture of silence around dying, death and bereavement.

During 2010 Dying Matters has worked with care homes, hospices, PCTs, funeral and legal service providers, retirement organisations and charities, many older people and community groups, and faith and belief groups to make talking about dying easier. We have supported communities, schools, older people, GPs and many hard-to-reach groups all over the country to break the taboo around discussing dying well and a good death.

Not talking to anyone or planning properly prevents many people of all ages from having their wishes met and getting the care and support they want at the end of their lives.

Talking about our plans for the future, wills, funerals and where we want to die is a part of having a good life.

Discussing how we want to be cared for and remembered is essential to achieving ‘a good death’ whatever the circumstance and helps those loved ones that we leave behind.

Our members are discussing their plans openly, reflecting the change in public attitudes that we need to see in and across all communities for success and to make good end of life care for all a priority.

Thank you to all our members for your conviction and commitment, and best wishes for the New Year.

Eve Richardson and Hilary Fisher

Chief Executive, National Council for Palliative Care

Hilary Fisher Director Dying Matter Coalition