Toby's blog

Dying Matters Awareness Week is over for another year, although there are still events happening for the rest of the month and over the summer - click here for details. On behalf of all of the Dying Matters team here at Hospice UK, let me say a big thank you to everybody who has been involved this year. We had 426 events registered this year, and each one of those represent the time, energy and creativity of a number of people. You make Dying Matters Awareness Week happen, and our thanks go to every single one of you. 

We're announcing the theme for 2019 now rather than in January to give you more time to incorporate it into your Dying Matters events. 

Vaughan Gething, AM (left), Prof. Hywel Francis (right) 

Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething’s ambition to designate Wales as a Compassionate Country has been warmly welcomed by Byw Nawr, the end of life care coalition in Wales.

Professor Hywel Francis, chair of Byw Nawr, said:

“We will enthusiastically work with Welsh Government to achieve Vaughan Gething’s ambition for a Compassionate Country.

Much has been made of the clash between the wedding of Prince Harry & Meghan Markle with the FA Cup Final on Saturday 19th May, but to date the juxtaposition with Dying Matters Awareness Week has been largely overlooked. Which is a shame, as marriage and death are two milestone life events, although they are to be distinguished from each other in that one is optional and sometimes multiple and the other is inevitable and with no second chance available.

Dr Hywel Francis, Chair of Byw Nawr, has welcomed the Welsh Governent's announcement of an additonal £1 million in funding for end of life care in Wales. Dr Francis said "This is excellent news. Byw Nawr has always appreciated the Welsh Government’s commitment to improving end of life care, and this additional spending will make a big difference to people across Wales.

‘I’m so glad it’s all in order now’: Catherine shares her experiences for Dying Matters Week

A guest blog from Chris Millard, CEO of the Institute of Legacy Management

Why now is the time to write your Will