Vision

The North East will have the highest quality services to support individuals (along with their families and carers) in their choices as they approach death. By a good death we mean one which is free of pain, with family and friends nearby, with dignity and in the place of one’s choosing.

Background

The north east was the first region in the UK to adopt a broad-based public health approach to end of life issues. A charter for A Good Death was developed by a multi-agency advisory group. This set out key principles for individuals and organisations in relation to good practice when dealing with people who are dying, their carers and families, and the bereaved.

Following public consultation, the north east charter gained wide endorsement, but to be implemented it will need the continuing support of all agencies as well as the public. The charter's principles have been promoted through meetings with local government committees, directors of adult services, voluntary organisations, faith networks, and community groups.

The aim of this programme has been to stimulate a societal approach which sees death, dying and bereavement as normal to life, and which strengthens the role of local communities in supporting, caring for, and respecting the wishes of dying people and their families. Wide public involvement has been and will continue to be vital in securing the principles of the charter and drawing up sustainable locally-based plans for implementation.

Highlights

• The north east charter for A Good Death is available for download.

• Slides from the North and London regional practical public health workshops are available

• A report on the role of faiths and beliefs in understanding death and dying is available.

• Reports on progress in implementing the charter for A Good Death are available.

• Details from the UK’s first ever regional public consultation on death and dying are available in a summary booklet and a full report. Included in the reports is an updated version of the north east charter for A Good Death.

• How HR policies can support a compassionate community approach to end of life is examined in a project report .

• Ideas for implementation by local authorities are available

• The support and time to think project to help people in their choice to live and die at home was pioneered on Tyneside.

• The charter for A Good Death is also available in 7 other language versions: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Farsi, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu.

• A simplified version which sets out the charter principles in more accessible language is also available.

• Prepared quantitative data tables from the consultation have been made available for use by researchers and analysts.