The National LGB&T Partnership is an England-wide group of LGB&T voluntary and community organisations who are committed to reducing health inequalities and challenging homophobia, biphobia and transphobia within public services.
Many LGBT people do not feel that end of life care services are open to them and fear they will face discrimination and a lack of understanding from health and social care providers when they are dying, as highlighted by research by the National Council for Palliative Care and the Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Voluntary and Community Organisations.
Dying Matters Awareness Week takes place from 12-18 May and the theme for this year is ‘You only die once’, or #YODO for Twitter. During the week, Dying Matters will be encouraging people to take five simple steps to make their end of life experience better, both for them and those close to them.
Members of the National LGB&T Partnership are actively highlighting to people they work with how they can get involved with Dying Matters Awareness Week, as well as the practical steps that individuals can take to make their end of life wishes known.
Sian Payne of the National LGB&T Partnership commented: “We’re delighted to collaborate with the Dying Matters Coalition. We can often be afraid of talking about dying, but raising awareness of these issues among lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities is vital to improving our end of life experience.
“Something as simple as having a conversation ensures that your personal wishes are known before you die and can offer some reassurance, for both the individual concerned and their loved ones. We encourage everyone who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans to start these conversations and make sure ‘Dying Matters’ to them.”
Claire Henry, Chief Executive of the National Council for Palliative Care and the Dying Matters Coalition, added: “Every minute someone in Britain dies but many people still feel uncomfortable facing up to their own mortality and discussing end of life issues. Although not always easy, talking about dying, death and bereavement is in everyone’s interests. That’s why we’re so pleased to be working with the National LGB&T Partnership, in order to ensure as many people as possible from lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities feel able and supported to make their wishes known.”
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