University of Birmingham and Warwick academics to provide information about living with serious illnesses in UK
People living with serious and life-limiting conditions and their carers will benefit from a free event held in Coventry city centre on 25th January which will outline what support is available in the UK.
The event which will be held at The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum will see experts from the University of Birmingham and Warwick Medical School entitled “Let’s talk about living well with serious illness”. This free, catered drop-in event funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research will also have doctors, nurses and staff from local hospitals and Myton, Marie Curie and St Giles hospices on hand to provide a listening ear and give advice.
Dr Katharine Weetman from the University of Birmingham is leading on the research, and her area of expertise is in communication between healthcare professionals and patients. Dr Weetman explains:
“A life-limiting illness or disease that cannot be cured is fraught with challenges and can impact considerably on everyday activities not only for the person experiencing it but those who are close to them.
“Good communication can improve that experience, having a positive impact on outcomes such as achieving personal preferences and goals as well as reducing anxiety and frustration particularly during times of transition between health settings or times of crisis. We hope that this event will help many people better understand the support that’s available in palliative care and that we can dispel some of the myths around what’s available.”
One-way process of palliative care not true
Members of the public attending the event will benefit from the free expertise from Dr Weetman and Professor Cara Bailey alongside one of the event leads Dr Celia Bernstein from Warwick Medical School, who have been conducting research on the experiences of patients (and their carers) being discharged from palliative care.
Recent research suggests that around one in three patients who receive care from a palliative care provider such as a hospice may be discharged back into the community as their needs and preferences change. However, there are consistently strong public perceptions about palliative care being a ‘one-way’ process. The event and other work being done by Dr Weetman and others is looking to provide better information and improve communication surrounding how palliative care can be best provided.
Professor Cara Bailey is an expert researcher in end-of-life care, a nurse by background, and joint chair at St Giles Hospice. Professor Bailey continues:
“There are misconceptions that palliative care is when nothing more can be done or only for people who do not think positively or hopefully about their own life. On the contrary, palliative care emphasises quality of life and living well with good outcomes, embracing a holistic model of care prioritising what matters most to people.
“Not only are there untruths surrounding public understanding of palliative care, there is also much fear. In the research, a common reflection amongst the interviews with patient and carer participants (who had recent experience of palliative care) was wishing they had known more about hospice before engaging with the
service. People told us they were surprised by the ‘beautiful’ hospice environment and the positivity and dedication shown by hospice staff. People who had initially been reluctant to access hospice services due apprehension as to what it meant for prognosis, were hugely grateful for the support and quality of care it provided and the opportunities it gave them to live well with serious illness.”
The event, ‘Let’s talk about living well with a serious illness’ is free to sign up and will be taking place on Saturday 25 January at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum between 12.00-14.00 at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lets-talk-about-living-well-with-a-serious-illness-free-event-tickets-1100936624079?aff=oddtdtcreator
About the National Institute for Health and Care Research
The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:
NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK Aid from the UK government.
This study/project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) [Research for Patient Benefit (NIHR204938)]. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Assistant Professor
Staff profile for Dr Katharine Weetman, Teaching Fellow, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Birmingham Medical School, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, The University of Birmingham.
Professor of End of Life Care
Staff profile for Professor Cara Bailey, Professor of End of Life Care in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Institute of Clinical Sciences at the University of Birmingham
