HomeFirst Programme – Events

Do you know what an Anatomical Pathology Technologist does? We’ll give you a hint – they work in our hospital mortuaries!

Whilst it may not be the career everyone imagines when they are younger, it can be a hugely rewarding and privileged role to have. This session allowed us to hear from someone with first-hand experience about what it is really like to work in a mortuary.

Anticipatory Care Planning has benefits for everyone. It empowers people to tell us what really matters; it gives friends and family an opportunity to talk open and honestly; and it helps professionals to work with everyone to create the best care and treatment plans possible. During the session we looked at tools and resources we use across NHSGGC to help promote future planning, and how our systems work together to share information.

ACP is everyone’s business, so make sure you know your role in the conversation.

How can we help our on-call teams to do the right thing in the middle of the night – when faced with a deteriorating patient that they have never met? Sometimes intervening may be of no benefit or could cause distress but making that judgement can be very difficult. It is possible that there is a plan but accessing it may be a challenge.

In this session we discussed the plans that may be available, how to find them, how to improve them and how to initiate them and have the conversation.

We partnered with Pushing Up The Daises and Caledonia Funeral Aid to a host session which aimed to shine a light on how people can attend to their own wellbeing following the death of a significant person, especially one they may have cared for. During the event we discussed

• ideas for helping you to start your grieving process in a way that best serves you and the people around you,
• the pros and cons of being actively involved yourself with arrangements for burial or cremation and also perhaps the person’s body,
• practical information about the Funeral Support Payment which help people with certain benefits and tax credits to pay for a funeral,
• the laws around death and funerals, and
• why your choices are really important to help your grieving and for your long term well-being.

This session looks at the legal duties of staff working in acute, community and/or primary care. In particular we discuss how staff can encourage carers to recognise their role, how to refer to support services and the legal duty staff have to involve carers in discharge planning. We also mention some of the systems which help us record information about any known carers and share this with other services.

When someone moves into a residential or nursing home, it is important that friends and family are still able to be fully involved in their lives. This may include visiting and spending time together either in this new setting, or elsewhere. It is important that friends and family are still supported in their caring role, even if it may look a little different. As everyone adjusts to this “new normal”, there are lots of conversations and pieces of information which can be helpful so that everyone understands what is happening and can share their own views. 

Whilst some deaths can be sudden and unexpected, most follow a period of illness which could last months or even years. During this time everyone can experience a wealth of emotions including anticipatory grief as we realise that a loss is coming. 

This panel discussion explores anticipatory grief from various points of view including carers of those living with Dementia and parents who have a child with a life-limiting condition.  There was also an opportunity to ask questions to our panel of experts who have backgrounds in various parts of this journey.

All of us will experience bereavements throughout our lives, so it is very likely that some of these events may happen whilst you are working. Whether it is a sudden loss, or illness which develop over a longer time, trying to juggle work and personal life can be a challenge.

It can also be difficult for colleagues who don’t know what to say or do when someone is dealing with these issues, or returning after the death of someone close.

During this session we explored some of the things we can do to support each other in the workplace including things we can say, places we can signpost to and some of the policies organisations have to support their staff during these incredibly difficult times.

Stories From 88 Days on a Tandem Around the British Coastline

In January 2022, Xani lost his sister, Alice, to suicide. Since then he and his family have been navigating their own grief journey, supported by a number of different charities including SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide).

In the summer of 2023, Xani decided to embark on a mammoth cycling expedition as a tribute to Alice and a way to reach out to others who have been affected by suicide, whilst also raising money for some great organisations. Over 88 days he covered over 3500 miles on a tandem around the British coastline, each day joined by a new person affected by suicide. Together as they pedalled, they shared the story of their experience and the wisdom they had gained. Not only this, he has also managed to raise over £36,000 for both SOBS and PAPYRUS.

From his time on the tandem, Xani has some incredible memories but has also gained a wealth of knowledge about the impact of grief and the different ways people begin to rebuild their lives after tragedy. During this session Xani shared his own story and reflections – from the importance of conversations to meaningful ways to honour those who have died.

Whether it is planning a funeral, or ensuring that people know your wishes and preferences when it comes to end of life care, having people and tools to help your feel empowered is vital. For members of the Queer community there can be added anxiety about some of these aspects such as what happens with legal paperwork, and how to ensure that the people you want to be involved in care and planning can be. 

This panel discussion discussed some of these questions and provided a space to discuss important topics including how we can create inclusive services which embrace and celebrate people’s identities.

What do you want to happen to your body after you die? For most of us, this question makes us think about funeral, burials, cremations. But what about donating your body to help the next generation of students and researchers understand the inner workings of the human body?

During this session we heard from colleagues at the University of Glasgow to learn all about the process that takes place when someone decides to go down this road.

This is in partnership with the University of Glasgow.

Grief is natural and something all of us will likely experience at some point. During this session we looked at some of the different models that people have used to describe the grief process and also bust some myths people might have about what is “normal”. 

This session is in partnership with the Beatson Cancer Charity.

Have you ever visited a hospice? Would it be somewhere you’d be afraid to go?

For many people the word “hospice” is associated with end of life care and death, however the truth is a little different. In this session we heard about all the amazing things hospices do to support people and those who matter to them, recognising that hospices are places of hope and warmth.

The legal parts of future planning can often be confusing, with lots of people not quite sure where to start. This session explored how to get started with Power or Attorney and making a Will, and why both of these things are so important.

We have split the recording into two parts.

When you think about palliative care, what is the first thing that comes to mind? “Terminal illness”? “End of life”? “Comfort Care”? Whilst all these things are true, palliative care is so much more than this.

During this panel discussion, people could ask us anything – from “how did you get into this field?” to “what does a “good death” look like?” – the floor was yours!

With the average cost of a funeral in Scotland being over £4000*, the financial burden of death and dying can be overwhelming. Caledonia Funeral Aid aim to support people navigating this difficult time by offering advice, as well as practical and emotional support. 

During this session we discussed some of the help that is available such as the Funeral Support Payment as well as thinking about creative ways we can honour and celebrate those who have died. There was also an opportunity to ask questions to our expert.

*Source: SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024

For many people pets are family and so it is only natural to grieve their loss. Wendy Andrew founded the Scottish Pet Bereavement Counselling Service to help others recover from the death of animal companions. 

During this session we talked about everything from the wealth of emotion that accompanies a decision to euthanise a pet, to speaking to children about the death of a pet. We discussed some of the common feelings that people may experience and highlight different places where support is available. There was also an opportunity to ask questions.

This session was delivered in partnership with the Scottish Pet Bereavement Counselling Service.

Everyday people are left with the grief and trauma that often accompanies the loss of a pregnancy or baby shortly after birth. Whilst everyone’s situations are unique, as a society we can do much more to support one another in these difficult times, and that often begin with having a conversation.

During this session we discussed some of the common feelings that people may experience and highlight different places where support is available. There was also an opportunity to ask questions to our panel of experts who have backgrounds in various parts of this bereavement journey.

This session is delivered in partnership with Sands and Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC).

We were delighted to be presenting at NHSGGC Grand Rounds on the topic of spiritual care considerations at the end of life. We are lucky to live in a multi-cultural country, with people coming from all walks of life and bringing their own beliefs and views with them. However sometimes it can be difficult to remember all the different things that we can do to support someone, especially as they approach death.

During this session, colleagues from the spiritual care team explored some of the common, yet simple things we can do as staff to support patients as well as their friends and family, and also highlight some of the resources available to support staff deliver this person-centred care. 

You can watch this on the Grand Rounds Stream Channel. Please note there may be restricted access to this video.

Dying is a normal process, but these days the process is often surrounded in mystery. During this sessions we learned more about what actually happens as someone approaches the end of their life and had an opportunity to talk to some experts.

When it comes to planning for the future, do you even know where to start? During this informal information session we gave you some ideas of things to think about and tools to help you plan, as well as telling you how this information can be shared with others so that everyone is in the know.

When you or someone you care about becomes ill, life can become very stressful. That is why we think it is so important for people to talk to each other and make plans before this happens.

As part of our Plan More, Stress Less Toolkit, is for anyone interested in getting started with planning ahead. In this session we talk about what paperwork we can complete before a crisis arises, what actually happens when someone goes into hospital and how we can all work together to plan for a safe and timely discharge.

An opportunity for staff to reflect on loss, grief and bereavement

Loss, grief, and bereavement are universal emotions.  Whilst death and dying is a natural part of life, throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic many more people have been touched by experiences which may have triggered feelings associated with loss and change. 

To give staff an opportunity to reflect on both our collective and individual experiences, a new informal online event was created.  The intention was to create a space for staff to reflect and recharge.  There was no active participation necessary, rather staff are encouraged to listen and reflect on the various contemplative pieces (sessions will also have subtitles).   

Staff from across all parts of health and social care were encouraged to attend, including our colleagues in Care Homes, Primary Care and Third Sector.  

You can read our Summary Report for the summer session.

Summer Session:

Autumn Session: