Agenda item

In accordance with the Committee’s decision of 6th February, to receive a presentation from representatives of Marie Curie NI, in relation to a whole society approach to end of life care.

            The Chairperson advised the Members that representatives from Marie Curie NI were in attendance to present to the Committee in relation to a whole society approach to end of life care.  Mrs. Joan McEwan, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, and Mr. Craig Harrison, Policy and Public Affairs Officer for Northern Ireland, were admitted to the meeting. 

            Mrs McEwan commenced by thanking the Committee for the opportunity to present.  She provided the Members with a brief overview of the work undertaken by Marie Curie and proceeded to outline some of the work it undertook in relation to providing care and support to people with advanced and terminal illnesses.  She advised that each year Marie Curie provided care and support to around 4,000 people living with a terminal illness, their carers and loved ones.  

            The representative explained to the Committee that she wished to use her attendance at this meeting to try and raise awareness of the need for a whole society approach to end of life care and she highlighted the need to try and change the public’s attitudes and perceptions towards death and dying.

            She proceeded to outline the following benefits of a whole society approach to end of life care:

·        expands the reach of end of life care services by engaging the wider community;

·        addresses a greater range of needs (including social, psychological and spiritual) that may not always be met by clinical services;

·        mobilises untapped sources of social and spiritual care/support, as well as practical resources and expertise;

·        increases social networks and reduces social isolation;

·        helps alleviate the significant burden on caregivers;

·        improves overall quality of life;

·        reduces the burden on frontline/clinical services, including unscheduled care; and

·        provides care in the community setting, usually the place of choice for both patients and carers.

            Mrs McEwan then proceeded to outline a number of examples of community-based initiatives and ways that Belfast City Council might be able to support people affected by terminal illness.  She stated that, whilst this was not a prescriptive list, it did provide real examples of initiatives that other local authorities, charities and voluntary groups across the United Kingdom had implemented in an attempt to try and support people either faced with or caring with someone with a terminal illness.  The representative described examples of ideas, as follows:

·        a Carer Passport scheme which would help to identify staff who were caring for someone with a terminal illness;

·        introduce work-place resources to support staff affected by terminal illness and bereavement;

·        undertake a review of Council policies on sickness leave, compassionate  leave and carers leave to ensure that staff received the necessary support when affected by terminal illness;

·        hosting a series of Death Cafes for staff and the public to raise awareness of the issues around death and dying and the support available for people affected by terminal illness (organised in conjunction with relevant organisations like Marie Curie or Cruse Bereavement Care);

·        hosting information pop-ups on issues relevant to death, dying and loss; and

·        supporting local art galleries and museums to run exhibitions exploring ideas of death, loss, grief and remembrance.

            The representative requested if the Council would consider supporting Marie Curie NI in delivering its ambition of organising a one-day event that would provide an opportunity to promote awareness of the issues around death and dying and help provide a platform from which to share information about the many excellent support services that were available.  The Committee noted that Marie Curie were also considering inviting the following potential exhibitors to participate:

·        Cruse Bereavement Care;

·        Law Society NI;

·        Carers NI;

·        Macmillan Cancer Support;

·        National Association of Funeral Directors; and

·        Men in Sheds.

            Following a query, the representation confirmed that Marie Curie NI would be willing to coordinate this event and organise it in conjunction with the Council.

            Several Members endorsed the request in principle but noted that the use of the City Hall did not fall under the remit of the People and Communities Committee.

            The representatives then answered a number of queries, following which the Chairperson thanked and praised the Charity for the invaluable work it undertook within the community and they left the meeting. 

            The Committee agreed that officers would investigate opportunities for the Council to support the proposal from Marie Curie NI for a partnership event in the City Hall which would endeavour to raise awareness of the issues around terminal illness and a whole society approach to end of life care and agreed that a further report would be submitted to the relevant Committee.