Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s Oxfordshire Community Matron Service is joining forces with other organisations across Oxfordshire to support the national Dying Matters campaign 2012.  This is the third national Dying Matters campaign, which aims to encourage people to talk openly about death, dying and bereavement and to help people who are reaching the end of their life to plan ahead and think about how they would like to be cared for as their health deteriorates.

In support of the Dying Matters campaign, Age UK Oxfordshire is holding an important event at the Oxford Town Hall on Tuesday 15 May, between 10am and 3pm, aimed at helping people to reflect, celebrate and plan on this very important issue.  The Oxford Health NHS FT’s Oxfordshire Community Matron Service will be present at this event, offering advice, information and support to people on what can often be a difficult subject.

The Oxfordshire Community Matrons can help support patients, their families and the people caring for them.  They help patients to plan ahead and talk about their preferences and the care that they would like to see in place as they near the end of their life.  They work closely with GPs, District Nurses, Specialist Nurses and other services to help patients meet their wishes and remain as independent as possible.

Pat Gordon, Community Matron, said:  “It is really important that people who are nearing the end of their life talk about their wishes with their friends and relatives and with the professionals involved in their care.  We can help support them to do this and to think about what is important to them, the care that they would like to receive now and as their health deteriorates.  The Dying Matters campaign is an important way of changing people’s behaviours and attitudes towards death, dying and bereavement”.

For more information about the Oxfordshire Community Matron Service please telephone 01235 205573.