Conversations About Advance Care Planning

What are fears associated with dying and how can we support patients, carers and staff? In this episode I am joined by Dr Andrew Thorns, a consultant in palliative care at Pilgrims hospices in East Kent and East Kent Hospitals. Andrew is involved nationally with research and ethics as part of the Association for Palliative Medicine and is a facilitator for advanced communication skills. Andrew introduces me to the concept of terror management theory and focuses on the work of Sheldon Soloman to answer these profound questions.  This episode has been kindly supported by the Living Well Dying Well Trust. The creation, development and content of the episode remains the responsibility of Clare Fuller. For information about Advance Care Planning, see the  Advance Care Planning Explained resource on my website Find out more about how I can work with you If you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations. If you enjoy the episode or learn something new, please consider buying me a coffee to go towards making more valuable podcasts: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/6nQVJqVgLY

What challenges are faced by people who are LGBTQ+  when accessing funeral care? This is a question I put to Poppy Mardall, founder of Poppy's funerals. Poppy champions better after death care, and describes what this look like for people who are LGBTQ+, as well as sharing brilliant information and resources that you can access. This episode has been kindly supported by the Living Well Dying Well Trust. The creation, development and content of the episode remains the responsibility of Clare Fuller. For information about Advance Care Planning, see the  Advance Care Planning Explained resource on my website Find out more about how I can work with you If you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations. If you enjoy the episode or learn something new, please consider buying me a coffee to go towards making more valuable podcasts: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/6nQVJqVgLY

How do you make sense of the choices, costs and practicalities whilst navigating bereavement too? Jason Ghous is the founder of Funeral Experts; he set out to provide free, independent, and practical support to people at the end-of-life care or who are bereaved, helping families understand their choices and make sense of bereavement admin. In our conversation, you'll learn about the service and find out how to access the brilliant support offered. This episode has been kindly supported by the Living Well Dying Well Trust. The creation, development and content of the episode remains the responsibility of Clare Fuller.   For information about Advance Care Planning, see the  Advance Care Planning Explained resource on my website Find out more about how I can work with you If you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations. If you enjoy the episode or learn something new, please consider buying me a coffee to go towards making more valuable podcasts: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/6nQVJqVgLY  

Lucy Carpenter leads the Compassionate Employers Programme at Hospice UK, supporting organisations to better care for employees experiencing grief, caring responsibilities, or life-changing diagnoses. Lived experience shapes Lucy's passion. In our discussion, Lucy describes being a carer for her Dad in her early 20s, her Dad's experience of working while living with a terminal illness and the simple steps all organisations could take to support employees.  This episode has been kindly supported by the Living Well Dying Well Trust. The creation, development and content of the episode remains the responsibility of Clare Fuller. For information about Advance Care Planning, see the  Advance Care Planning Explained resource on my website Find out more about how I can work with you If you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations. If you enjoy the episode or learn something new, please consider buying me a coffee to go towards making more valuable podcasts: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/6nQVJqVgLY

Imogen Benson is a product and tech leader who is deeply passionate about holistic end-of-life planning and care. Imogen brings a great mix of knowledge gained through personal experience, working as  a leader in tech start ups and voluntary work in a hospice. Imogen is  Head of Product at Aura Life and has particular interest in how  technology can support rather than replace compassion. Our conversation explores societal norms around death and dying, reveals the story behind Aura Life, and reflects on technology.  This episode has been kindly supported by the Living Well Dying Well Trust. The creation, development and content of the episode remains the responsibility of Clare Fuller. For information about Advance Care Planning, see the  Advance Care Planning Explained resource on my website Find out more about how I can work with you: If you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations. If you enjoy the episode or learn something new, please consider buying me a coffee to go towards making more valuable podcasts: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/6nQVJqVgLY  

Dr Colette Hawkins is an Academic Consultant in Palliative Medicine at University Hospital Tees,  and an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University. Motivated to understand more deeply what it means to live with a serious illness,and how to deliver the care people really want, Colette began a series of research studies. Our conversation explores the catalyst to this, identifies what the research found and Colette shares the next steps of her innovative work. This episode has been kindly supported by the Living Well Dying Well Trust. The creation, development and content of the episode remains the responsibility of Clare Fuller. For information about Advance Care Planning, see the  Advance Care Planning Explained resource on my website Find out more about how I can work with you If you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations. If you enjoy the episode or learn something new, please consider buying me a coffee to go towards making more valuable podcasts: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/6nQVJqVgLY  

Rosalie Kuyvenhoven  is an award-winning celebrant,speaker, celebrant tutor and Death Cafe host. I had the pleasure of meeting Rosalie at the launch of Evie King's book, Get Ahead of Being Dead and was fascinated to talk with her. Listen as we explore the experiences that have shaped Rosalie's work and find out how she brings ritual and  meaning to funerals. This episode has been kindly supported by the Living Well Dying Well Trust. The creation, development and content of the episode remains the responsibility of Clare Fuller.   For information about Advance Care Planning, see the  Advance Care Planning Explained resource on my website Find out more about how I can work with you If you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations. If you enjoy the episode or learn something new, please consider buying me a coffee to go towards making more valuable podcasts: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/6nQVJqVgLY

In this episode it is my pleasure to talk with Caro Syson, founder of Your Final Matters. If you are listening and are thinking that you need to get your ducks in a row, this episode is for you. Caro shares how she works with groups and individuals to support later life planning and the story behind her sunflower journey. This episode has been kindly supported by the Living Well Dying Well Trust. The creation, development and content of the episode remains the responsibility of Clare Fuller. For information about Advance Care Planning, see the  Advance Care Planning Explained resource on my website Find out more about how I can work with youIf you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations. If you enjoy the episode or learn something new, please consider buying me a coffee to go towards making more valuable podcasts: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/6nQVJqVgLY

In this episode it is my pleasure to talk with Professor Julian Abel. Julian became a consultant in palliative care in 2001 and was Vice President of Public Health Palliative Care International. He is an international keynote speaker and has published regularly on models of public health palliative care.  We talk about his new work in the National End of Life Care Coalition and explore a community based approach to care and why this is so important. This episode has been kindly supported by the Living Well Dying Well Trust. The creation, development and content of the episode remains the responsibility of Clare Fuller. For information about Advance Care Planning, see the  Advance Care Planning Explained resource on my website Find out more about how I can work with you:If you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations. If you enjoy the episode or learn something new, please consider buying me a coffee to go towards making more valuable podcasts: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/6nQVJqVgLY  

Get Ahead of Being Dead is Evie King's new book. In this discussion Evie shares why the book has been written and takes us on a journey through the chapters in classic Evie King style. Listen, learn…and laugh too. For information about Advance Care Planning, see the  Advance Care Planning Explained resource on my website Find out more about how I can work with you If you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations. If you enjoy the episode or learn something new, please consider buying me a coffee to go towards making more valuable podcasts: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/6nQVJqVgLY

The ReSPECT process has been widely implemented. It stands for the Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment and, when used well, it provides a guide for clinicians to ensure people's wishes and values are respected in an emergency situation.  Communication is at the heart of ReSPECT.  In my conversation with Sharan Harris-Christensen we explore what good communication means and how this is delivered. Resource mentioned in this episode   RealTalk: Engaging people in end of life talk - Real Talk - Real Talk Education with Treetops Hospice: Education and development - Treetops Hospice Treetops Hospice Education and Development | LinkedIn  ReSPECT for healthcare professionals   LinkedIn: Sharan Harris-Christensen: Sharan Harris-Christensen - United Kingdom | Professional Profile | LinkedIn   Contact Sharan at: [email protected]   This episode was released to celebrate Dying Matters Awareness 2026  For information about Advance Care Planning, see the  Advance Care Planning Explained resource on my website   Find out more about how I can work with you If you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations. If you enjoy the episode or learn something new, please consider buying me a coffee to go towards making more valuable podcasts: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/6nQVJqVgLY    

In this episode I talk with Dr Barny Hole, a  kidney doctor and researcher, about patient preferences for kidney failure treatments. We discuss a review paper and focus specifically on the biomedical versus person-centred paradigms of nephrology practice. Our discussion has relevance to all long-term condition decision making. For information about Advance Care Planning, see the  Advance Care Planning Explained resource on my website   Find out more about how I can work with you If you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations. If you enjoy the episode or learn something new, please consider buying me a coffee to go towards making more valuable podcasts: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/6nQVJqVgLY  

Talking with Jorden helped me to understand how not to compartmentalise EDI. Advance Care Planning is about what matters most to a person,  with identity and inclusivity at the very heart of care. Find out more about EDI and planning ahead through the lens of patients, staff and systems in this fascinating conversation.   Resource mentioned in this episode National Inclusion Week® | Inclusive Employers Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Week 2025 | NHS Employers  Hiding who I am" The reality of end of life care for LGBT people  Advance Care Planning with people from South Asian Communities  It's more than rainbows in reception    Podcasts mentioned in this episode: The Safari Concept with Dr. Christian Ntizimira Organ Donation with Dr Radha Sundaram No Barriers Here  

Could we start planning ahead earlier? This question is asked by Dr Sonya Bushell as part of a research study and the results have implications for us all. Listen in to find out about Sonya's research, what inspired the work and how we can shift planning ahead from a medical to a societal model.   Resource mentioned in this episode Read Sonya's research: Attitudes to earlier advance care planning: a qualitative interview study in general practice  Find out more about the Waiting Room Revolution Access resource from Compassion in Dying     For information about Advance Care Planning, see the  Advance Care Planning Explained resource on my website   Find out more about how I can work with you If you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations.   If you enjoy the episode or learn something new, please consider buying me a coffee to go towards making more valuable podcasts: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/6nQVJqVgLY  

Communication underpins Advance Care Planning. But what is effective communication and how can it be taught? In my conversation with Sharan Harris-Christensen you will hear challenges, opportunities and the power of being vulnerable as we explore RealTalk. Resource mentioned in this episode RealTalk: Engaging people in end of life talk - Real Talk - Real Talk Education with Treetops Hospice: Education and development - Treetops Hospice Treetops Hospice Education and Development | LinkedIn No Barriers Here LinkedIn: Sharan Harris-Christensen: Sharan Harris-Christensen - United Kingdom | Professional Profile | LinkedIn Contact Sharan at: [email protected] This episode was released to celebrate Dying Matters Awareness 2026  For information about Advance Care Planning, see the  Advance Care Planning Explained resource on my website Find out more about how I can work with you  If you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations. If you enjoy the episode or learn something new, please consider buying me a coffee to go towards making more valuable podcasts: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/6nQVJqVgLY