A MAJOR conference aimed at raising awareness of end of life care and hospices has taken place.

The annual ‘End of Life’ conference, organised by Pendleside Hospice and Rossendale Hospice, was attended by over 100 health and social care professionals and speakers in the community rooms at Burnley FC’s Turf Moor ground on Wednesday (October 11).

The conference aimed to breakdown the taboo and stigma about talking about death and people’s wishes when they are dying and after they have passed away.

During the morning, there were talks from Pendleside Hospice CEO Helen McVey, East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and a Parkinson specialist nurse.

While in the afternoon the participants took part in workshops showing them hand massage and relaxation techniques.

Attended by health and social care workers across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, it was the fourth time the popular conference has been held.

It was organised to coincide with Hospice Care Week to raise awareness of hospices across the UK.

The conference aims to share best practice of working in an end of life care environment, as the hospice provides training for care home staff from the area.

Jeanette Shepherd, end of life care facilitator for care homes, Pendleside and Rossendale hospices said it was ‘very important’ that conversations are opened up around end of life care, and that by educating people about the importance of advance care plans, it should held ‘reduce the taboo’.

She said: “There’s been a fantastic turn out again this year, with around 100 delegates and 32 speakers and stall holders.

“The delegates who attend all have an important role to play in helping facilitate end of life care.

“ It’s very important that we open up conversations around end of life care, and by educating people about the importance of advance care plans it should help reduce the taboo.”

Both hospices have been delivering end of life care education to care homes and domiciliary agencies across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale for the past six years.

Sharon Swales, senior carer at Marsden Grange, care residential care home for older people, in Nelson, said: “The conference has been really informative and interesting.

“In particular, I’ve found the information about Parkinson’s very beneficial as we have a number of residents with the condition.

“Talking about end of life care is very important.

“As a society we tend to avoid these discussions with our loved ones as they can be very difficult to have.

“But being able to follow a loved one’s wishes before they pass away is one of the most important things we can do for them.”

Dionne Standbridge, programme director at East Lancashire CCG, who spoke at the conference said:“It was fantastic to see so many health and social care professionals at the conference today, organised as part of Hospice Care Week.

“We recognise this as an important event in the Hospice events calendar as it helps to emphasise the importance of working together locally to provide effective end life care for people who need this support”.