Talking about dying with the Archbishop of Canterbury

South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust recently hosted an event to explore the subject of dying with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

As part of his tour of the area, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby met with Trust directors and staff involved in end of life care as well as community leaders. The aim of the event, held at The Bacco Lounge in Rugby, was to help facilitate conversations around death and promote passionate communities.

People who have experienced end of life care from the Trust started the event by sharing their stories. One of these was Tammy Neale who shared her insights and praised the support she received from Trust staff when her child sadly died. Part of Tammy’s story explained how her experience will benefit others after it motivated her to train as a paediatric nurse who will care for children once qualified.

A packed room welcomed the Archbishop of Canterbury who highlighted the importance of talking about death, speaking openly and passionately while drawing from his own experiences following the loss of a child. He then took part in small group conversations centred on end of life care which bought together a mix of decision-makers, front-line staff and community leaders.

Closing the event, The Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby thanked healthcare staff for their compassion and the role they play supporting people through death.

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