The uncomfortable subject of death was the focus of a virtual talk aimed at encouraging people to have open discussions with their loved ones about the final stages of their lives.

Great Western Hospital’s palliative and end of life care team, along with palliative care specialists from Prospect Hospice hosted the online event intended to help people die with dignity, in the place that they want and with the people they want around them.

Professionals talked about their experiences with end of life care and the support they offer to patients and their families.

Dr Natasha Wiggins, clinical lead and consultant in palliative medicine, said: “It is really important for people to have a conversation and plan for their end of life care. You don’t have to be unwell, and it doesn’t matter what age you are when you have the conversation.

“Having these early conversations can support you and your loved ones during a very difficult and emotional time.

"It can often make the grieving process much easier for families and friends who can find comfort in the thought that their loved one died as they wanted.”

Palliative nurse Louise Knight described her job at the hospital and how her team helps patients and their family.

She said: “We can get referrals from anybody in the hospital, from family and friends and from our community colleagues.

“We try to respond to those referrals as quickly as we can, we often get referrals for complex patients who have symptoms, like pain, nausea, fatigue, I mean the list could go on.

“We are there for the patient and the patient’s relative and their close family. And we’re quite open to having conversations about the here and now and planning for the future.

“Those conversations can be quite difficult when you’re in an acute hospital setting, you don’t always have the pleasure of having a side room or having conversations away from other ears.

"But we do try our utmost best to make it as relaxed as we can for the patients and their family and give them time to express their thoughts and wishes.”

The free talk was held as part of Dying Matters Week which took place between May 10 and 14.

In a video lead palliative care and end of life nurse Helen Brown said: “It is really important to us that our patients die in the way that they choose, in the right place, with the right people.

“Whilst we all hope to live long and healthy lives sadly this is not always the case and we would encourage everybody, whatever age you are, to have important conversations with those around you, about how you want to die.”

More information on tackling the subject is available at prospect-hospice.net/covid-19-talking-about-death-and-dying