Dying Matters in Sheffield: Citywide partnership to raise awareness of dying, death and bereavement
As part of Dying Matters Awareness Week, a host of organisations and businesses in Sheffield are partnering up to raise awareness of dying, death and bereavement with a range of events across the city from Monday 8th to Friday 12th May.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, St Lukes Hospice, Sheffield Hallam University, The University of Sheffield, NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group, the Theatre Delicatessen and Dead Earnest are joining together to highlight the importance of the national awareness week.
Dying Matters Awareness Week takes place annually in May and provides an opportunity to talk about dying, death and bereavement nationally.
This year the theme of the awareness week is ‘What Can You Do?’ and aims to get people more active in planning for dying and death and helping support those who may need it in times of grief and bereavement.
Dr David Throssell, Medical Director at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Within Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, we are lucky to have dedicated staff, such as those working within palliative care, whose skills and expertise are used to help patients and relatives in planning and preparing for death. A holistic approach to caring for and respecting the wishes of the patient, their families and carers at this time can have such a tremendous impact on the overall experience of that person, which is why it is important for individuals and the people who are important to them to discuss their wishes and plans.”
Across Sheffield there will be a wide range of events throughout the awareness week including Death Cafés, which encourage discussions about dying and bereavement over coffee and cake, theatre group performances, presentations from End of Life Care professionals, information stalls from local support centres, charities and businesses, and much more.
Interactive activities will also be available to take part in such as quizzes, sessions for making memory boxes, and also a Wall of Wishes, which gives visitors an opportunity to record and share their wishes and aspirations.
On Monday 8th May, the week will begin with a Death Café held at the Theatre Delicatessen on The Moor from 11.30am - 4pm. At 12:30pm there will be a special performance of Sheffield Theatre Company, Dead Earnest’s production of ‘Space for Sharing’ which is a new work based on people’s real experiences of living with breast cancer and using the web to seek advice and support, and share information and experiences about their illness.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals will be hosting an event on Wednesday 10th May, at the Northern General Hospital’s Medical Education Centre from 4.30pm - 7.00pm. There will be a market place of informative stalls from 4-30pm including chaplaincy, organ donation, Sheffield Hospitals Charity, Cancer Support Centre, solicitors and funeral directors and more. At 5.30pm a health talk ‘We Are Not Immortal’ will be presented by healthcare professionals working in end of life care around the Trust, which explores death and dying. Places can be booked by contacting Jane Pellegrina on 2714322 or email Jane.Pellegrina@sth.nhs.uk
There are many other free events available throughout the week, taking place in a variety of Sheffield locations including The University of Sheffield’s Medical School Café, Sheffield Hallam University’s Collegiate Campus, and St Luke’s Clifford House and City Road shop, on the dates below:
Monday 8th May
Theatre Delicatessen, The Moor, S1 4PF, 11:30am - 4pm
The University of Sheffield, Café 1828, The Medical School, Beech Hill Road, S10 2RX, 1pm - 3pm
Tuesday 9th May
St Luke’s, Clifford House, Ecclesall Road South, S11 9PX, 10am - 2pm
Theatre Delicatessen, The Moor, S1 4PF, 11am - 4pm
Wednesday 10th May
Sheffield Hallam University, Heart of the Campus, Collegiate Crescent, S10 2BP, 11am - 2pm
Theatre Delicatessen, The Moor, S1 4PF, 11am - 4pm
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Medical Education Centre, Northern General Hospital, S5 7AU 4.30pm - 7:00pm
Thursday 11th May
St Luke’s City Road Shop, S2 1GQ, 11am - 2pm
Theatre Delicatessen, The Moor, S1 4PF, 11am - 4pm
Friday 12th May
Theatre Delicatessen, The Moor, S1 4PF, 11:30am - 4pm
For further details and a full timetable of what’s on during the awareness week visit www.stlukeshospice.org.uk/dyingmatters
Media contact:
Emma Kirby, Communications Assistant
Tel: 0114 2713453
Email: Emma.Kirby@sth.nhs.uk
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