New Sussex resource launched to support culturally inclusive end of life care during Dying Matters Awareness Week

This week is Dying Matters Awareness Week, which runs from 5 to 11 May, and this year focuses on the theme: “The Culture of Dying Matters.”

The national campaign invites people across the UK to have honest conversations about death, dying and grief—shaped by the diverse ways communities understand and experience them.

A new Sussex-wide resource has been launched to support health and care staff in delivering end of life care that is sensitive to the faith, culture and beliefs of individuals and their families.

Developed collaboratively across local hospices, NHS organisations, voluntary and community groups, the Faith, Culture and Belief Framework and accompanying handbook aims to ensure everyone in Sussex receives care that is both clinically excellent and personally meaningful.

The Sussex framework offers guidance on how to support people at the end of life in a way that respects their individual values, faiths and traditions. It provides practical advice for staff engaging with families and patients, ensuring care plans are built on understanding and empathy.