University seminar seeks to banish taboos surrounding death.

13 Jun 2023

The University of Winchester has assembled a panel of experts for a public seminar on death, dying and bereavement.

Ending Well is the title of the free event on 28 June which aims to explore different perspectives on these difficult topics and start a conversation about dying with dignity and why it is so important.

The panel will be chaired by Dr Lara Alloway, Chief Medical Officer and Palliative Medicine Consultant at Hampshire Hospital NHS Foundation and Iain Cameron, Chief Executive at St. Michael’s Hospice in Basingstoke.

Panel members will include Dr Anna Wilkinson, a consultant in palliative care, GP Charlotte Hutching who is also clinical director for the Hampshire Integrated Care Board, and Rev Ruth Metcalf chaplain at Hampshire Hospitals Foundation.

Dr Alloway said: “In our wider society, death and dying is often neglected in conversation, which many people struggle to broach with family and friends. Lessening this taboo though, is so important.

“Through this seminar, we’re hoping to share thoughts on encouraging compassionate conversations within our communities, supporting a culture for everyone to feel comfortable talking about death, dying and why it matters.”

A spokesperson for the University said: “A taboo very often exists around talking about death, dying and bereavement but these are important issues that we all face and at the University we deal with them across a wide range of our courses from health and wellbeing to religion and philosophy.”

The audience will be able to take part in a question-and-answer session.

The event takes place at the University of Winchester’s West Downs Centre from 6pm. To reserve a place, visit Ending Well - exploring issues around end of life Tickets, Wed 28 Jun 2023 at 18:00 | Eventbrite

This seminar is part of a series held by the University of Winchester, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, St. Michael’s Hospice, Winchester Hospice, and The Countess of Brecknock Hospice, covering topical subjects on the theme of palliative and end of life care, and the experience of death. Previous seminars have explored key issues about health and wellbeing.

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