First ever national conference on LGBT end of life care

Policymakers, service providers, academics and people who are dying will come together today (Thursday 21 June) to discuss how to improve end of life care for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people at a major conference organised by the National Council for Palliative Care (the charity that leads Dying Matters), the National End of Life Care Programme and the University of Nottingham.

Speakers at the Central London event, which is free to attend, include leading human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell (pictured), who is expected to warn that LGBT people continue to be at risk of being let down by end of life care services and that many face real problems getting treated with dignity and respect when they are dying.

Other speakers include Dr Kathryn Almack from the University of Nottingham, Dr Andrew King from Kingston University, Dr Ann Cronin, Tung Suen from the University of Oxford, retired police officer Cheryl Callow, Eleanor Sherwen from the National End of Life Care Programme and senior hospice staff.

The conference takes place on the day that the National End of Life Care Programme publishes a new guide on end of life care for LGBT people, developed following consultation and discussion groups held across the country. ‘The route to success in end of life care – achieving quality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people’ aims to encourage people to be open about their relationships and needs, and to guide organisations and the people within them to have an LGBT-friendly culture. 

Earlier this year a report by the National Council for Palliative Care and the Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Voluntary and Community Organisations, Open to All, found that many LGBT people did not feel that end of life care services are open to them and were concerned that they will face discrimination and a lack of understanding from health and social care providers when they are dying.

Sam Turner, Director of Public Engagement at the National Council for Palliative Care and one of the conference speakers, said: “Good end of life care should be about doing all we can to make people feel safe and secure to talk about their lives and the people who are important to them without worrying they may be discriminated against. We only have one chance to get end of life care right for people who are dying, which is why it is so important that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are able to access high quality and appropriate care and support when they are dying.”

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said: "Becoming seriously ill and knowing you are dying is distressing enough without the added stress of worrying that  your carers may not accept you if they know you're lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

"Fear of homophobic prejudice, rejection and neglect is very real and continues to damage LGBT people’s lives. Many terminally ill LGBT people feel doubly vulnerable - on account of their illnesses and on account of homophobia or transphobia.

"We still have a long way to go to ensure treatment and support without prejudice, which is why I am delighted to be speaking at such an important event and why I will continue to campaign on this issue." 

To book a free place at the event, Showcasing research, policy and practice about end of life care for LGBT people, which takes place tomorrow, 21 June, at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel & Conference Centre, 4 -18 Harrington Gardens , Kensington, London, SW7 4LH, starting at 10.30am, go to www.endoflifecareforadults.nhs.uk/events/lgbt-june-2012.

More

Open to all? Meeting the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people nearing the end of life is published by the National Council for Palliative Care and the Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Voluntary and Community Organisations. Copies of the report are £10.There is also a DVD which accompanies the report, priced £5.

• Watch the film: Open to All 
• Order 'Open to All'
• Order the report