North East Ambulance Service has worked with a regional learning disability charity to raise awareness about the importance of making end-of-life decisions.
Karen Hertwick, the Trust’s Macmillan end of life facilitator, sits on the Deciding Right regional group, which aims to equip the public and professionals with all the resources required to make decisions regarding care and medical treatment throughout your life until you die.
As part of this work, Karen has worked with Inclusion North to help raise awareness of the importance of planning for the end of your life amongst people with learning disabilities and healthcare professionals as part of its Stop People Dying Too Young campaign.
Karen said: “Talking about death and dying is difficult, but making decisions about how we want to die and what we want to happen at the end of our lives is an important conversation for us all to have with those important to us and who care for us.
“It’s particularly important that no assumptions are made about people with learning disabilities and that everyone is involved in decision-making, regardless of their background or circumstances, including those important to them.
“The film is aimed at supporting people with a learning disability, and those important to them, to talk about and make decisions but it is also very helpful for all of us.
“The film is just over seven minutes long and I’d really urge you all to watch it.”
The film is available to watch on YouTube:
You can also find other helping resources for people with learning disabilities on our Learning Zone.
For more information about Deciding Right, visit the Northern Care Alliance website.