Palliative and End of Life Care

Death and dying are an inevitable part of all our lives and many of us will be affected by the death of people close to us.

In Sandwell, we have established a Palliative and End of Life Care Thematic Group, who are accountable to the Health and Wellbeing Board. The aim of this group is to:

  • work collaboratively and creatively to build on and beyond the current health service model, introducing a ‘Public Health’ approach to improve health and wellbeing at the end of life.
  • encourage a borough wide conversation about end of life, ‘opening up’ of conversation about death and dying, moving towards a culture which sees death as a natural part of life rather than something to avoid discussing and planning for even though it is inevitable for us all. In doing so develop our communities who do much of the care, so that at the end of life everyone is prepared to help.
  • enable people irrespective of diagnosis or any other factor to be able to make informed choices about what is important to them and their carers before during and after their death, whilst ensuring that sufficient support is available within and outside of the health service environment.

What can you do?

Talk to each other in advance

People may want to talk to family members about their wishes and plans in advance. This might include financial arrangements. This will be helpful so you know what is important to your loved one who is ill, or who is at risk of becoming very ill and might not get better. Some people may choose to stay at home and receive care there.

Information you may find useful:

Make a plan

It is important to be prepared in case you or a loved one becomes seriously ill. This is especially important if you or someone close to you has a serious underlying medical condition or is older.

Thinking about different situations which may arise is better for you, your loved ones and helps the medical professionals looking after you to provide the care you want.

Some specific treatments and interventions will not work for people who have complex underlying health problems, or when people are very frail or sick. It is important that you discuss with a health professional what treatments might be available and how they can help you.

There may also be some interventions and care options which you are not aware of, but which could greatly improve your quality of life (e.g. palliative care). Speak to a health professional to learn what might be available for you

Your doctor or community nurse may talk to you about the future and what your wishes and options might be to help you think about future treatment and care. This is known as Advance Care Planning​.

Caring for someone who is very ill at home

If you are caring for someone who is very ill or dying at home there are things you can do to help them feel comfortable, from helping with their pain to moving them in bed.

More information you may find useful

Palliative care in Sandwell

Connected Palliative Care is a service for patients and their relatives and carers in Sandwell and West Birmingham who have a life-limiting illness. They work in partnership with other health professionals such as the GP and community nurses to support and coordinate care.

Coping with bereavement and supporting someone else going through bereavement

Sandwell Council offers Bereavement Services at Sandwell Valley Crematorium. Their staff have many years of experience in bereavement services and are there to provide advice and guidance to families on a wide range of bereavement issues.

What you can do if you need other extra support

Information you may find useful

Spiritual and pastoral support

At a time when we face a crisis in our lives, many people who do not regularly attend a place of worship seek to make sense of what is happening, through prayer, reflection, and by receiving the spiritual and pastoral support from an appropriate person of faith.