| |
| |
|
James Woodward
James Woodward's life was transformed when after University he spent a year working alongside the Dying at St Christopher's Hospice in South London. This experience of listening to both staff and residents has become one of the foundation blocks of his work and interests. He is passionate about the importance of listening to the narratives of illness and challenges both ideologies and structures to be more radical, compassionate and creative. Much of his professional work as an Anglican priest has taken up these concerns and shaped his research, writing and practice.
While theology and spirituality are important tools for thinking and responding in a world of fragmented conversations James has always sought to discover ways of working that are collaborative and inter-professional. The Well Being in Dying was one such initiative. Pauline Smith has been an important conversation partner and this web page reflects their interests and enthusiasm to enable people to live more intentionally with change, loss and death.
For more information about James see his website ( www.jameswoodward.info). He has become addicted to blogging ( www.jameswoodward.wordpress.com )
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Pauline Smith
Pauline has been Lead for End of Life Care in NHS West Midlands since July 2006. She has a particular interest in:
- The experiences of death, dying and loss in the 21st century and the changes needed to meet the needs and expectations for care at end of life
- Attitudes to and beliefs about death dying and loss across and between communities, groups and cultures and how and why these are changing
- The support needs of staff who work consistently with those at the end of their lives and how best these needs can be met
Previously she was with Macmillan Cancer Support at their national office, working on a number of International and National projects. These included work with the Departments of Health (or equivalents) in Israel, South Africa and Gibraltar as part of the International projects brief. This involved learning a great deal about working with different cultures, religions, beliefs and value systems surrounding the experiences of dying and death and different health care systems.
"From a personal perspective I, like many people, have experienced a number of significant events which influence and inform my contribution to my work. Here is just one example.
In 1991 my then husband, aged 35, was diagnosed with a Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Extended chemotherapy regimes were unsuccessful in reducing and managing the tumour mass and spread, and he asked the magic question ‘how long have I got to live?’ While living with the dying and deterioration time the Cancer Center which was managing his treatment and care was setting up a trial of the use of stem cell transplants and was entered as pilot no 9! This was successful and put him into a remission period. So for me I have experienced the intensive and intimate roller coaster of thoughts feelings and emotions during such times as a wife and main carer."
This website has been developed by James Woodward and Pauline Smith as an agreed action from the discussion that took place in the wellbeing in dying group meetings. The group was set up by James Woodward and led by Frank Field MP.
Other members of the Group include Manjula Patel, Bridges Support Services; Professor the Baroness Finlay of Llandaff; Anne Atkinson, Head of Care, The Foundation of Lady Katherine Leveson, Temple Balsall; Paul Cann, Director Help the Aged, London; Gillian Dalley, Relatives and Residents Association, London; Professor John Ellershaw, Specialist Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Marie Curie Centre, Liverpool; Claire Henry Programme Director, NHS End of Life Care Programme, Leicester; William Husselby, Chairman of Governors, The Foundation of Lady Katherine Leveson, Temple Balsall; Helen Meehan, Palliative Care Manager, Solihull Care Trust; The Revd Mark Pryce, Bishop’s Advisor for Continuing Ministerial Education, Birmingham; The Rt. Rev’d Mark Santer, Former Bishop of Birmingham; Geoffrey Shepherd, Guys Hospital, London; Tessa Sowerby, Freelance Consultant, Health and Social Care, Norfolk; Max Watson, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Belfast.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
