Why dying well matters

Some of the biggest health challenges facing our population - cancer, heart disease, poor mental health and ageing - also present major end-of-life care challenges for individuals and for the health and social care system.

• The care of those nearing the end-of-life
• Supporting people with life limiting illnesses to live as well as they can, with a focus on quality of life
• Supporting people whose illness might be progressing to better understand their priorities for care
• The experiences of where and how people die
• Supporting people living with loss and bereavement

For the purposes of this report, we are using the Marie Curie definition of what constitutes a good death:

"A good death (or good end-of-life experience) is having the right care, support and systems in place, so you feel protected and safe, and your carers and loved ones understand what support is available. A good death will be different for everyone, as it depends on what matters to you."

Prioritising 'dying well' and quality of life aligns with NHS core values of compassion, respect and dignity for all. Unfortunately, inequalities can be seen across the life course, and it is often the most disadvantaged and vulnerable who suffer most from the imbalance in care when dying and grieving. The focus of this DPH report is therefore to highlight some of the inequalities that exist in relation to end-of-life care in Kirklees and to make recommendations for how we can seek to address this imbalance.