Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme

Hard to Say - Communications Training DVD

Working closely with the medical advisors, Ocarina has put together two new communications training scenarios for the programme. These are designed to assist medical and nursing staff working with patients and families in difficult circumstances and particularly where they have  the job of communicating news that can be Hard to Say. This DVD is now an important training tool used in medical education in Ireland and in the UK.

This recent video was edited to promote the Design and Dignity Grants Scheme for the Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme. To vote please go to the better together website http://www.bettertogether.ie/content/dignity-design

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Journeys To The End of Life

Ocarina in 2009 completed a major awareness raising DVD 'Journeys To The End Of Life' for the Irish Hospice Foundation's Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme. Introduced by Gabriel Byrne, seven sections in the DVD explore many aspects of end of life care in Ireland.

An Overview explores the need to improve end of life care in Irish Hospitals and care homes.  Home to Hospital looks at what could improve the links between various partners in end of life care. 'Negotiating the System' a dramatised day in a patient's journey through the hospital system starring actor Peadar Lamb. Advance Care Planning examines what needs to be considered when planning care for people on their journey to the end of life to ensure that the care is patient-centred, flexible and that good communication is ongoing. The Dying Phase is about recognising this distinct phase and preparing the patient and those close to them for the event. The Importance of Ceremony, poet Seamus Heaney together with others working in this area share their thoughts on the importance of marking the death of a loved one. Care After Death looks at mortuary care, follow up care for the family and how attention to detail and efficiency in processing paperwork are aspects that make life and the grieving period easier for families. 

Issues discussed and explored include Communications and respecting the wishes of the patient at all points along the journey, the role of all staff in the care of the patient at end of life, improving the links between home and hospital and nursing home and hospice where appropriate. The importance of ceremony with or without religion and the key need for an appropriate well designed environment for people approaching the end of life and for those caring for them. 

Contributors to the DVD include Seamus Heaney, Gabriel Byrne, the staff of Cork University Hospital, Beaumont Hospital Dublin, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda and Wexford General Hospital. The staff of the Irish Hospice Foundation's Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme, Mel Bates of ICGP, Macartan Hughes National Ambulance Service College and Brian Power, Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council all contributed 

For more information, see hospicefriendlyhospitals.net