Hafren Dyfrdwy – Helping Powys people make the most of our water.

Providing services to around 250,000 people – including many here in Powys, Hafren Dyfrdwy is a vital part of the local landscape. But there’s more to the company than pipes, taps and sewers. The human touch is all-important, too.

They have a dedicated Care and Assistance team based in Wrexham, supporting their customers in any way they can, whatever they need.

Another perfect example of the company’s approach can be seen in Katie Wood, their Community Partnership Specialist. We spoke to her recently about the support she and her colleagues provide to water users across our area.

Clewedog Powys

What’s the role of a Community Partnership Specialist?

It’s important for everyone to have access to water. Clearly that goes without saying! But many people – here in Powys and more broadly across the UK – could use some extra help.

My job is to let people know how we can support them, whether that’s through our financial assistance schemes or additional services for customers with specific needs.

You may have seen me at Newtown and Welshpool Markets, chatting to customers about what we can do for them. It’s definitely a perk of the job to get out and about!

What are you focussing on at the moment?

Every day we see another story about the cost of living being more of a challenge. Whether that’s food costs, energy or heating, people are feeling the squeeze and we know that’s a concern for many households. We want water bills to be one less thing for people to worry about.

At the same time, people are interested in using water wisely. There’s a link between saving water and saving money, of course. But what people are beginning to realise is that there are other benefits from smart water usage. For instance, if less water is wasted that means we’re using less energy as a company – in the long run, everyone wins.

So, one of the things we’re doing at the moment is giving advice and solutions to customers to help them use our water more efficiently.

Can water meters help?

Absolutely, yes they can. Remember, with a water meter you will only ever pay for the water you use at your property. It can also help to save water - many people make a conscious effort to use less water once they have a meter fitted and this means a benefit for both your pocket and the environment.

Using less water means less water needs to be heated. This can help you to save on your energy bills and reduce your (and our) carbon footprint.

And what about paying the water bills themselves?

The days of a big quarterly or six-monthly water bill are long gone. These days we offer a full range of ways to pay. Monthly direct debits take away the hassle and spread the cost over the year.

Alternatively, customers can pay online or over the phone with a debit card. And you can still pay in person at a bank or your local Post Office – or using your Watercard at one of 28,000 PayPoint stores across the UK.

What help can you offer to customers on low incomes?

Our Here2Help Scheme can offer a reduction of water bills to any Hafren Dyfrdwy customer with a household income below £16,385. Depending on your situation, you can save between 30% and 90% off the annual bill.

You don’t need to be behind on your bills or on benefits to apply. We’ll look at your case sympathetically and do what we can to help.

What about people who genuinely need to use more water?

Nobody at Hafren Dyfrdwy wants to see customers being scared to use water. Our WaterSure Scheme offers financial support to customers who receive certain state benefits and who need to use more water – perhaps due to having kids at home or a medical condition.

WaterSure means that whatever your water usage, you’ll pay no more than the average annual charge – and could pay less if your meter reading is lower.

How can people apply for help under these schemes?

For Here2Help – for people on low incomes – go to hdcymru.co.uk/caringforyou or call us on 0333 207 5650.

For WaterSure – if you need to use more water due to your particular family or health circumstances – go to hdcymru.co.uk/caringforyou.

So that’s what you can do for bills. What if someone needs some other type of help?

The first thing I would say is talk to us. Our Priority Services Register is available to help if you or anyone in your household has additional needs - such as a medical condition, disability, restricted mobility, mental health issues or low hearing or vision.

Once you’re on our Priority Services Register it means we can tailor our services for your specific needs. That could mean we schedule our work around medical treatments, give you more notice if we have to interrupt your water supply, supply you bills in Braille or even just give you more time to answer the door if we know you need more time to get around.

I’m only scratching the surface when it comes to the range of services we can provide to make things easier. One of the more popular requests I’m seeing at the moment is appointing a trusted person – normally a neighbour or a family member – to contact us if you’re unable to deal with your own account for any reason. It really makes a big difference.

You can find out more about our Priority Services Register at hdcymru.co.uk/caringforyou

It sounds as if you’re going to be busy with all these additional services in the months and years to come

It’s what we’re here for. Water is such a vital part of everyone’s lives, so making it easy for people to use our services is just the right thing to do. And I get a lot of satisfaction from helping our customers – it makes those trips to the market worthwhile!

Katie Wood - Community Partnership Specialist

Start Well Children and Young People’s Officer

We're delighted to welcome Lucy Taylor back as our Start Well Children and Young People's Officer. Lucy tells us more about her role and what she hopes to bring to it. 

Lucy Taylor - PAVO Start Well Children & Young People's Officer

First tell us what brought you to work in the field of Children and Young People?

I trained as a reception class teacher, and later worked in information and engagement. I first started at PAVO as the Children, Young People and Families officer before working as a Community Connector. This role brings me back to the younger world.

What key qualities does a good Start Well Officer need to have?

Humour, patience and the ability to keep quiet and listen, particularly to listen to the children and their views. Then the ability to report accurately, using their words, the children’s views to partner organisations to enable the children to influence the development of services they receive.

Are there particular issues which arise in rural areas like Powys for Children and Young People?

I would say access to services that really listen to them and transport to activities. However, the role will be about listening to children and their parents about what is important to them, I would not like to second guess their answers.

What impact do you think COVID 19 has had on young people’s health and wellbeing?

I think there has been some supposition that as young people are generally more tech savvy that they have fared better during COVID restrictions, but research has proven them to have suffered more. Isolation and being unable to play or meet with friends, worry about school and exams, worry about carrying the disease into their family have all impacted the young people. The lockdown that reduced children’s access to play and playing with friends has been difficult for them. I do not think the media has helped with the focus on the detriment to children and their use of terms like “destroying their future” only adds to the pressure children are feeling. Action for Children are using their Guide Programme in schools to bring the temperature of the words used down, to think of the difference between worry and anxiety and we all need to use our words carefully.

Action for Children protects and supports children and young people

What age range will you be supporting in your role?

Organisations that work with children to engage with the work of the Start Well board and children and young people to voice their views on what is important to them.

In terms of engagement 0 onwards and their parents. Under the UNCRC right 12 is the child’s right to have a voice in things that affect them. As previous engagement work has shown even young children can be helped to tell what is important to them.

Do you work closely with any other organisations or statutory services to provide support ?

I will be working closely with the third sector and our statutory partners both in the council and health.

What is the most challenging / rewarding aspect of the job?

Most challenging will be reaching those families that rarely speak out. Most rewarding will be any change for the good I can help to make for children and families in Powys.

What is the most valuable thing you bring to the role?

Experience and connections throughout Powys and being able to tap into the amazing work of the third sector in all its forms from the small local community groups to large partners like Mind.

If you could change one thing for the better for Children and Young People what would that be?

Give them a voice and have that voice listened to, and have play, especially outdoor play taken more seriously as a right and a need for all.

The Ins and Outs of Problem Gambling

 

GamCare is an independent charity and  the leading provider of information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling harms across Great Britain.They offer a wide menu of free, flexible and confidential support to those affected by gambling problems, as well as a range of training, outreach and risk reduction programmes.

We asked Urtha Felda GamCare outreach officer for Wales to tell us more about the support services provided by GamCare. 

Anyone can be affect by problem gambling

Tell us  a little bit about  GamCare

We are aware that organisations are likely to encounter individuals who are negatively impacted by their own, or someone else’s, gambling behaviour.

GamCare is an independent charity and we are the leading provider of information, advice, and support for anyone affected by problem gambling across England, Scotland and Wales. We offer a wide menu of free, flexible, and confidential support to those affected by gambling harms. We support around 40,000 each year through our Helpline and treatment services.

Our team can support your clients to change their relationship with gambling and improve their quality of life through face to face, online and telephone therapeutic interventions. There is no wrong door to accessing our treatment services – clients can refer themselves, or you can do this on their behalf.

Why do people gamble?

“Why do I gamble when it causes so much damage?” 

“Why can’t I just stop?”

“Why am I putting myself through this?”

The answer is rarely a simple one.

Many people gamble as a fun past time, but for many others gambling can become a serious problem.

It can sometimes feel like the urge to gamble is completely out of their control. Many people find themselves unable to explain why they continue to gamble despite the problems it causes in their everyday lives.

You may be tempted to say ‘for the money’, perhaps for that ‘big win’, but this rarely the whole truth. When the gambler wins, more often than not they spend their winnings on gambling more, and keep going until they have nothing left. This can leave them feeling trapped, like there is no way out of the cycle.

Problems with gambling can often represent problems elsewhere in someone’s life. Perhaps they tend to gamble at certain times, or when they begin to feel a certain way – as a way of escaping from something else they are not ready to deal with yet. Gambling may also have been a part of someone’s life since they were young, and can make them feel safer for a short time.

 Who is affected by problem gambling and gambling related harm?

Anyone can be affect by problem gambling. If someone lives with problem gambling then other people connected to them will also be harmed by the consequences of problem gambling.  1/3^rd of families of problem gamblers do not have enough money to buy food or pay for rent.  Problem gambling leads to debt, poor mental and physical health, family breakdown and suicide ideation.  Other people affected could be colleagues, friends, or family.  GamCare series are available for anyone affected,  information, advice and support is available today. 

Problem gambling leads to debt, poor mental and physical health

Are there any particular groups of people in society who are most at risk from problem gambling

There are many explanations as to why people develop gambling problems.  We know there are some groups more at risk of becoming vulnerable to problem gambling than others.  People living in areas of high deprivation are more at risk, anyone experiencing poor mental health, people who have lived with traumatic experiences, a child growing up in a problem gambling household is 4 times more likely to develop problem gambling as an adult.  This is not an exhaustive list, nor do all vulnerable people develop problem gambling.  Looking at risk factors is helpful to assist us in identifying people who may be a risk.

What effects does gambling have on the health and wellbeing of the family of an problem gambler? 

The impacts for families is wide and includes debt, poor mental health, family breakdown, homelessness.  The trauma of losing one's home can leave lasting anxiety issues, as does the stress of not knowing when someone may gamble again.  Problem gambling is recognised as safeguarding issue, because the impact on the family and children is so wide.

Problem gambling affects families

What barriers might prevent people from accessing gambling support and how do you work to overcome those?

Lack of knowledge is the biggest barrier to accessing services.  An increased awareness by health and support professionals would assist others accessing the help on offer, and getting the treatment needed today. other barriers could be that a person does not recognise the problem, or is in denial, or due to the stigma they feel too ashamed to come forward and ask for help.

The right environment sending the message that no one will be judged because of their gambling, and that this is a safe place to talk about gambling, will help people share the problem and access the help they need.

Are there particular issues which arise in rural areas like Powys for people with problem gambling?

The biggest issues in rural areas is accessing the right services – this is equally so for problem gambling support, especially when gambling is less recognised as a health problem..  Statistics across the health range show a higher health inequality for rural areas.  Being a gambler in a rural area has been shown to increase a number of risk factors, in particular the likelihood of suicide.

CAB can help with both debt and addiction counselling.

Do you work closely with any  other organisations or statutory services to provide support to people?

GamCare has a strong relationship with CAB debt advice service.  Anyone experiencing problem gambling will benefit for both debt and addiction counselling.

To access support today…

Phone the National Gambling Helpline 24/7  0808 8020 133

 aragamblingservice@recovery4all.co.uk

 0330 134 0286.

A particularly inspiring example of someone  that has recovered from problem gambling is Kelly.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP_bYyQ1SWw

If anyone would like to discuss accessing support they can contact  Urtha Felda at GamCare 

by Email  Urtha.Felda@gamlcare.org.uk

 or

by phone 07869 998110

It’s Time to Talk About Dying

what to do when someone dies? 

Last year we celebrated the ground-breaking  “My Life My Wishes,” a PTHB Palliative care initiative, focusing on those often difficult questions around death and dying, with the launch of the Powys Advanced Care Planning document. What has become clear as a result of this initiative is that there is a need for a dedicated approach to end of life and bereavement care. What is important to establish from the beginning is how support is co-ordinated and delivered. What do we do in Powys when someone dies?

SATH Swan Scheme

At the moment there isn’t a dedicated bereavement strategy in Powys, it’s a blank canvas with the opportunity to shape services and provision for our local Powys communities. To find out what bereavement services are offered in neighbouring Shropshire we visited the SwanScheme at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

.SWAN is an acronym for Signs Words Actions and Deeds.

SATH were early implementers of the SwanScheme, devised by Roy Lily and pioneered by Fiona Murphy in Manchester hospitals. The premise of the Swan Scheme is that “we have one chance to get end of life care right,” so we need to do it well.  In Shrewsbury there’s a dedicated bereavement suite based in the old mortuary viewing suite , opened in 2015, and two end of life care two bereavement rooms, with a special children’s room. It feels like you’re visiting someone’s living room with a welcoming, calm atmosphere. There are pictures on the walls, comfortable chairs with lots of thoughtful and sensitive considerations and attention to detail, such as mood lighting and CD players.

The end of life volunteer service began in 2017, with 23 current volunteers and plans to expand with a SWAN room on each ward. Every individual or family with an end of life care plan through the SWAN scheme receives a memory box containing several helpful items for the bereaved such as tissues, a small ribbon-tie soft bag for jewellery or a lock of hair and a swan bag for the bereaved’s possessions. What is particularly beneficial about these bags and boxes is that everyone at the hospital recognises the significance of the SWAN and takes this in to consideration.

The Rules

thinking outside of the box

An underlying premise of the SWAN scheme is that the rules are there are no rules. Rules can be broken and out-of-the-box thinking is encouraged and welcomed, for example flowers, a favourite food or drink and pets are all allowed, with special pet passports to allow access to the hospital, it’s the little things that can make an end of life experience more personal and less clinical, bringing moments of joy to the final moments of someone’s life.Time is also irrelevant when it comes to SWAN end of life care. It’s possible to share a final Christmas in June or a Mother’s Day in December. What is important is that the death is as personal as possible and as long as it’s safe and kind with no harm to anyone it’s OK. This approach encourages open and honest dialogues around death and dying. Demystifying the stigmas and taboos we cloak death in and making it more acceptable and approachable, making any fears and concerns easier to talk about.

Important Points

Conversations about death and dying are encouraged to be seen as ‘important,’ rather than ‘difficult,’ It’s one of the most significant conversations we’ll have about our life and how we choose to leave it so it’s important to be honest and open. It’s important to take in to consideration, where we want to die, who we want to be there, who is going to represent you if you’re unable to represent yourself. Kathryn Mannix talks about these important conversations in  her short but poignant You Tube Video, “ Dying is not as bad as youthink,” 

Powys Bereavement Launch

The visit to the SWAN scheme at SATH was particularly thought provoking and inspiring with lots to consider moving forward with a Powys Bereavement strategy. Planned to coincide with “Grief Awareness Week,” the Powys Bereavement Project was launched at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod on Tuesday 3^rd December The event was well attended with a mixture of statutory and third sector organisations. The launch opened with a video of Julia Samuels MBE of the “Good Grief Trust,” with the message that, “everything about grief and loss is chaotic and messy,” promoting the fact that there are no set rules and we really need to talk about grief, death and dying and bereavement.

Speakers

Several people shared their perspectives about grief and bereavement with the room. Becky Evans from Credu was the first person to address the room. Becky Shared a powerful Vlog with us from Powys young carer Emily Bleakley who cared for her mother during her illness and death from terminal bladder cancer last year. Emily’s story is shared in our PAVOMental Health Blog Becky’s key message to the group was that it’s important to help people with all types of grief and support people with caring during end of life, through to bereavement and beyond.

Sue Westley, chair of CRUSE Bereavement Care spoke next. CRUSE is a national organisation found throughout the UK and Northern Ireland. It’s reliant on volunteers and in Powys has an area co-ordinator based in Newtown. Sue informed us that approximately 600,000 people per year are bereaved. Most people have good social support networks. CRUSE is there for those people who don’t that don’t have that support . CRUSE offer one to one appointments at home or in a safe place, giving support and offering advice to help people in their grieving. They offer different types of support including pre-bereavement, major incident and dementia and also run workshops to support people who are bereaved. Sue highlighted the importance and value of talking, not internalising feelings. With 60 years of supporting people through grief and bereavement CRUSE have now delivered a powerful Manifesto for Bereaved People. They are also planning to recruit more volunteers this summer, if this is something you'd be interested in please contact them at powyscruse@cruse.org.uk

Marion Baker talked to us about the services provided by the BrackenTrust. Based in Llandrindod they offer support to people affected by cancer, their friends and family and carers, providing a range of activities and group support from gardening to singing to mindfulness and massage. They are currently in the process of standardising their bereavement service.

The Samaritans were represented by Alison Davies who described the services offered. All roles at the Samaritans are filled by volunteers, there are currently 80 members of staff in Powys, 40 shop workers and 40 listening volunteers. Their aim is for fewer people to take their own lives. They currently offer support by phone, e-mail and sms. There are always two volunteers and a leader on duty, employing SHUSH listening tips to provide a safe place where people can talk openly about their feelings and experiences.

The morning session ended with an open and honest, heartfelt message from Alison Edwards-Lewis, Palliative Care Secretary with the PTHB, which highlighted the need for a Powys Bereavement scheme to be established. Julie Rowles, Director of Workforce, Organisation Development & Support Services for PTHB thanked everyone and spoke movingly of her own personal experience of grief and loss.The Tenovus Voice Choir joined us for the final moments of the launch. Tenovus is a choir for people affected by cancer. It was set up 75 years ago and has gone from strength to strength in that time. There are 18 choirs in Wales and 2 in London with 1800 weekly singers. Tenovus provides support 365 days of the year and base their support on the fact that singing makes you feel better. Something we were able to experience first-hand as the Llanidloes Tenovus Choir joined us to sing Christmas carols.

Next Steps For Powys

The launch was a powerful first step towards implementing a Powys Bereavement Plan. There was music, cake, laughter and tears and a real sense of a united passion and commitment to supporting people in end of life care and bereavement. The palliative team are in the process of working on a project plan with these initial steps and intentions:

• We want to ensure that everyone who is bereaved in Powys has accessible, individualised and holistic support.
• We recognised the huge breadth of experience in terms of types of loss and grief reactions and that individuals may need very different things, at different times, across a large geographical area.
• We celebrated what support is already there which surprised many in the room, and agreed it needs a central directory for accessibility (with a search engine function, probably through infoengine)
• We explored how grief is totally natural process that does not need medicalising – but it needs to be normalised and supported within community contexts
• We recognised the support needed for professionals working with people who are grieving, and that education and easily accessible information is needed for everybody.
• We recognised that particular kinds of deaths and losses need particular support, for example, death by suicide, miscarriage, death of a child.
• We are committed to work together to radically improve bereavement services in Powys in the next year.

The words of Tiffany, choir leader with Tenovus, Llanidloes stay with me as we move forward with the bereavement project, “Grief is a build up of love with nowhere to go,” Hopefully by coming together and working out what good grief looks like in Powys, we’ll find healthy avenues and channels for the grief.

My Life My Wishes - Live Well Dying Matters.

"How people die remains in the memory of those who live on…"

 Dame Cicely Saunders (1918-2005)

We're all familiar with the Powys Ways to Wellbeing with,"Start Well, Live Well and Age Well," Just as important to consider is how we end our lives, it's time to look at "Dying Well."

Live well Dying Matters

Death and dying can be taboo topics in our culture, that's why weeks like "Byw Nawr- Dying Matters," are important to raise awareness and break down those awkward barriers. How we approach the end our lives is just as important as how we choose to live our lives. It's just as relevant in death to still have your say, yet often we do not have those all important conversations.

• 76% of people living with cancer had thought about the fact they may die from cancer.
• Only 35% of people who had thoughts and feelings about their death had shared these feelings with anyone.
• Only 8% had spoken to their health care team about the subject. Macmillan (2017)

Background to Advance Care Planning

In June 2018 the PTHB identified the need to have an advance care planning document to enable conversations around death and dying. Extensive planning and research was carried out in creating a working document, enabling people to open up to conversations about end of life planning. In January 2019 the draft Advance Care Planning Document was rolled out to be extensively tested with important feedback leading to a co-produced and designed final version. 

The next step was to train special Advance Care Planning Champions as ambassadors to spread the word and make the document widely available. The first group to be trained were link nurses, soon followed by Nursing & Residential Care Homes, Voluntary Organisations, Welfare Rights and many more nurses. By "Live Now Dying Matters," week 13th- 20th May 2019, fifty ACP champions had been trained and were presented with their ACP certificates and badges at the launch day on the 13^th May 2019.

ACP Champions receiving their mugs and badges.

Making a Difference 
Dying is a sensitive topic that can be difficult to come to terms with. An ACP won’t stop the emotional pain but it can help to make it a little easier. Kim Bailey attended the launch of the ACP on the 13^th June and shared her story and experience of having an ACP and how this has been of benefit for her and her family

A Patient’s Perspective on the My Life, My Wishes Document in Powys

“I found the “My Life, My Wishes” document very helpful especially the “My Last Days” section where I can tell my family and friends how I want to be cared for and where, without upsetting anybody. Before this document I had a piece of scrap paper in my mum’s cupboard with my funeral wises written on – now they are in my document where all my family can access them. This document is so helpful to bring up a subject that no-one really wants to talk about, once given a cancer diagnosis. I wish this had been around 7 years ago when my dad had his diagnosis, as this is something as a family, we had never spoken about. So, towards the end of his life, we had to bring up the subject but if we had had “My Life, My Wishes”, we could have spoken earlier about this. We would have known his wishes and would have known how he wanted to be cared for.”

Kim Bailey – May 2019

An ACP Champion’s Perspective on the My Life, My Wishes Document in Powys

Kathryn Jarvis from Credu shares her reasons for becoming an Advance Care Champion.

"I put my name down to do the training because I believe people should have the death they want.We don’t want to think about dying but it’s going to happen to every single one of us at some point in our lives.

As an Adult Carers Outreach Worker I work with unpaid family and friend carers of people with a wide range of health issues, mental ill health and learning disabilities.

As an ex-carer, caring for my grandad I remember how unsettling it was not really knowing what he wanted and navigating things as best we could.

Future care and our wishes is so important. Do we really spend time to consider where we’d want to be cared for and by who, what treatment we’d want or what we really don’t want. Have we made a will and do have our wishes on funeral arrangements in place? It maybe that you have feelings about the type of service you want- what music, poems, readings or hymns would you want, whether you want to be buried or cremated.

The ‘My life, my wishes- advanced care planning document.’ Has everything in one place. It’s an easy to read document you can pick up and put down when you want. You can add to it. You can discuss it with those around you and make your wishes known."

Are we ready?

What Next?

In difficult times having an Advance Care Plan can help make all the difference. It’s not just for people who are terminally ill. It’s a document that enables us to change our attitude to death and dying, facilitating an opening to enable those important conversations at the end of life. The more death becomes a part of everyday life, for people of all ages, the easier it will be to talk about. If we begin these conversations with young people, then maybe some of the stigma and discomfort will start to ease. If you, or your organisation would like to be an Advance Care Champion there's another training session at PAVO offices, Ddole Road, Llandrindod, LD1 6DF on Wednesday 17th July from 10.00-3.30, to book contact the Palliative Care team using the contact details below. If you would like a copy of the Advance Care Plan for yourself or someone you know, visit the PTHB Palliative Care – My Life My Wishes website, call the palliative care team on 01686 623558 or e-mail charity.garnett@nhw.wales.uk

Mandy Dean- Credu, Charity Garnett-Palliative Care Team & Kathryn Jarvis-Credu, Advance Care Champions. 

My Life My Wishes - Byw Nawr (Dying Matters) week 13-19th May 2019

A new Advance Care Planning process is being launched across Powys as part of Byw Nawr Dying Matters Week to give people the chance to explore and express their wishes for their future care.

The theme for this year’s Byw Nawr/ Dying Matters campaign (13 to 19 May 2019) is ‘Are We Ready’, and looks at the practical and emotional steps we all need to take to be ready for the end of our lives. Opinion polls show that only about a third of people have written a will or thought about their funeral, and even fewer have thought about their end of life care, or made a decision about organ donation.

To address this, Powys Teaching Health Board are using Byw Nawr week to launch ‘My Life My Wishes’, a document designed to give people the chance to explore and express their wishes for their future care.   People that engage with Advance Care Planning (ACP) often achieve better quality of life and are more likely to die in a place of their choosing.  Planning ahead can also make life much easier for grieving loved ones.

 The ‘My Life My Wishes’ document is designed to be easy to complete and accessible for everyone, regardless of your age or state of health.  Fifty ‘Advance Care Planning Champions’ from across Powys, from within Powys Teaching Health Board and from care homes, nursing homes, CREDU Carer supporters and others have been trained up to offer assistance with the process.  Events are being held across Powys during Byw Nawr/Dying matters week to launch the document which will be available from ACP champions, and also through the website.

Rhiannon Jones, Director of Nursing for Powys Teaching Health board will officially launch the document from 10-12 on Monday 13^th May 2019 at the MRC in Llandrindod Wells. 

Rhiannon says: “I am thrilled that Powys Teaching Health Board is launching ‘My Life My Wishes’ to help all of us have these important conversations.   Advance Care Planning has been shown to improve outcomes for patients and their families.  This document will help our staff provide person centred care across all the communities of Powys.”

Kim Bailey, from Forden near Welshpool, completed the document during its testing phase. She says: “I found completing My Life, My Wishes, really useful, because it is hard to approach certain subjects and it was really straightforward and easy to use.  The document helped to put everything in place, and helped me to talk to my family. The document is now there for anyone that needs it.”

Staff Nurse Emily Blizard from Graham Davies Ward in Llanidloes Hospital says: “I know from my own experience how helpful it is for families when your loved one is clear about what their wishes are.  At a time of great uncertainty and stress it is empowering for families to know you are supporting them to achieve their wishes.   As a staff nurse I think this document will make a big difference to many families’ lives by avoiding some distress at the end of life.”

Community Nurse Tamsyn Cowden from Builth Wells District Nurses says: “I think My Life My Wishes will make a positive impact on my patients by helping us to have honest conversations sooner.  We all need to be thinking about and talking about our wishes for our future care, so that we are not always making decisions in a crisis. To deliver person-centred, compassionate care, we need to understand what is most important to our patients, and ‘My Life My Wishes’ will help us to do that.”

Faith Gupta, Manager of Morgannwg House in Brecon, says: “I really support the introduction of ‘My Life, My Wishes.’ This document will be a great help to my residents and their families.  We have helped to test this document and the response from staff and families has been really positive.”

Community Palliative Care Nurse Charity Garnett based in Newtown who has been part of designing the document says: “Developing ‘My Life My Wishes’ in partnership with the community and health care professionals from across Powys and Wales has been a wonderful opportunity. I hope that this document will empower many people to have these important conversations, both with their loved ones and with health care professionals.  Facing the end of our lives is rarely easy, but we hope this document will help to make us more open about our wishes and concerns, which will make it easier to support each other.”