Posted on: 5 March 2025
In collaboration with Healthwatch, palliative care stakeholders and members of the public we held an event on 26 February to shape a shared vision for the future of palliative and end-of-life care services across the region.
The event provided a platform to share valuable insights and data, including the voices of those with lived experience. These perspectives highlighted exemplary practices while also identifying areas for improvement. Engaging workshop sessions explored key themes, fostering collaboration, innovation, and fresh ideas for service development.
Discussions centred around ensuring fair and equitable access to high-quality care for all ages, identifying those in need of support earlier, and having meaningful conversations about their wishes. Strengthening support within communities for families and caregivers, improving cross-sector collaboration, integrating services across different settings, and raising awareness about palliative and end-of-life care were also key themes. A specific focus was placed on the needs of children and young people, with health inequalities at the heart of all conversations to ensure barriers to care are addressed.
The event brought together a diverse group of voices - from clinicians and commissioners to voluntary sector representatives and those with lived experience - shaping meaningful priorities for the future. The day concluded with a strong commitment to action, ensuring that insights translate into tangible improvements. We remain dedicated to ensuring equitable, compassionate, and person-centred palliative care for all communities.
Amy Kenyon, Macmillan Transformation Lead for Palliative and End of Life Care, said:
"This event powerfully reaffirmed our collective commitment to creating a future where everyone in West Yorkshire has fair and equal access to high-quality, person-centred palliative and end-of-life care.
"Through meaningful discussions on our goals and priorities, the integration of expert knowledge, and, most importantly, listening to the voices of lived experience, we are making significant progress toward ensuring compassionate, inclusive, and dignified care for all."
Harriet Wright, Manager, Healthwatch across West Yorkshire (maternity cover), added: "It was great to be part of this event and see how our report based on people’s experience of end of life care in West Yorkshire is influencing discussions and next steps. We look forward to seeing some real impact over the next two years as priorities take shape with the ultimate aim of making sure that everyone has an equitable and good quality experience at the end of their lives."