‘Dying well can be FUN’: NHS hospital under fire for shocking memo to staff on palliative care ward

May 31, 2016

Idea was to promote concept of living well and planning for dignified death
Newsletter was circulated by the general manager of clinical services
Leaked by a shocked member of staff, leading to trust issuing apology

Anna Hodgekiss for MailOnline

Published:
06:04 EST, 31 May 2016

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Updated:
06:41 EST, 31 May 2016

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A hospital has come under fire for telling staff in an internal newsletter that ‘dying well can be fun’.

The poorly phrased memo was part of a staff briefing about Dying Matters Awareness Week at the at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals in Surrey.

The idea was to promote the concept of living well and planning for a dignified death.

The newsletter was circulated by the general manager of clinical services and leaked by a member of staff.

The poorly phrased memo was part of a staff briefing about Dying Matters Awareness Week at the at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals in Surrey

Part of it read: ‘Dying matters celebrates life – and reminds us that we only die once!

‘It encourages us to tell our families now what our wishes would be and to write them down when we are fit and well.

‘Examples include registering as an organ donor, making a will – and some people like to record their funeral wishes also.

‘Living well and dying well can be fun as well as serious.

The memo went on to boast a ‘Death by Chocolate’ theme event by the Palliative Care department was ‘very well received’.

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A member of staff at leaked the internal memo that went on to boast a ‘Death by Chocolate’ theme event by the Palliative Care department was ‘very well received’.

The newsletter was circulated to staff on May 20 and a spokeswoman for the Trust has apologised for the letter.

She said: ‘We would like to apologise for any offence our promotion of national Dying Matters Awareness Week may have caused.

‘The aim is to encourage people to talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement, and to make plans for the end of life.’

‘Each one of us is different, and it is important to recognise that some people acknowledging they are dying, as well as recognising the sadness and seriousness of what is happening, want to include laughter and happy times and to make good memories for family or friends.’