07:00, 09 July 2024
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
Ahead of the general election, campaigners and a dedicated Marie Curie Nurse from Weston-super-Mare spoke to locals about understanding their end-of-life hopes and wants.
The leading end of life care charity, Marie Curie, is leading a campaign to get better support for palliative and end of life care. They urged residents to support their cause by reaching out to local parliamentary candidates, emphasising the necessity for essential enhancements in end of life care.
In 2022, Bristol experienced 3,610 deaths, affecting 18,050 bereaved individuals. Among the deceased, it is noted that 3,250 were likely in need of palliative care, with approximately 810 possibly passing away without adequate end-of-life support. Marie Curie highlights the urgency of preventing suffering and isolation, underlining the need for accessible family assistance during such difficult periods.
In a statement, Sarah Middlemiss, Campaigns Manager, at Marie Curie said: “Today, the public told us that they want to feel understood, cared for and supported at the end of their lives. Those things shouldn’t be a hope, they should be a guarantee. But we know that some people are dying with avoidable pain and with other distressing symptoms because access to care across Bristol, and the country, simply isn’t equal.”
“Successive governments have failed to make end of life care fair. And because of our ageing population, we have reached a flashpoint. During the next parliament, over three million people die and nearly all of them will need palliative care. If nothing changes, many will miss out. It’s time to fix end of life care. Dying people don’t have time to wait.”
To go along with their campaign, the charity commissioned 25 pieces of reverse graffiti. Reverse graffiti involves the creation of temporary or semi-permanent images on various surfaces, typically walls, by selectively cleaning or removing dirt, thereby forming designs or messages.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Marie Curie. This is the UK’s leading end of life charity. They provide expert end of life care for people with any illness they are likely to die from, and support for their family and friends, in hospices and where they live. Learn more here.
Hospice UK. This is a national charity for hospice and end of life care. They work to ensure everyone affected by death, dying and bereavement gets care and respect. Find out more here.
Sue Ryder. This is a palliative and bereavement support charity that aims to make sure everyone approaching the end of their life or living with grief can access the support they need Find out more.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Good Health And Wellbeing.
