Strathcarron Hospice received funding from the Health and Social Care Alliance to work with local communities, finding out what services and supports are available to people living with deteriorating health, enabling them to ”live right up to the end”. The aim of the project is to develop community support around end of life care.

They want to work in partnership with local people to design services to help manage the physical, emotional and spiritual challenges they may face, and help them make plans for end of life.

To achieve this, Strathcarron Hospice would like to hear the views of as many people as possible who are living with long-term conditions or deteriorating health, caring for someone with a long-term condition, or who have past experience of caring for someone as they approached end of life.

They would like to know:

Have you ever thought that you might be in the last year of life?
If not, what might be important to you about that last year?
What might you want to focus on, for you and for your loved ones?
What gets in the way of you and your family thinking about and making plans for the future?
What might help you?
If you have thought about it, what prompted you to do so?
What helped you to think and make plans?
Do you have any suggestions of what Strathcarron Hospice can do together with individuals in communities to help more live actively with deteriorating health and to make plans for the end of life?

They are also looking at holding discussions and meetings throughout October, and are looking to hear what day and time is most suitable for people, and if they require transport. Alternatively, Strathcarron Hospice team members can speak on the phone with those who would prefer privacy in this matter.

The team are also keen to speak with any community groups whose members may be willing to share their views.

Strathcarron Hospice appreciate that this is a difficult subject for many people. As such, they are dedicated to handling meetings and conversations with sensitivity at all times.

For further information on the project, or tp take part, please contact Susan High by phone: 01324 826222, or email: susan.high@nhs.net