Marie Curie Cancer Care

Shameem Nawaz

Project Manager‘Improving access to palliative care services for Minority Ethnic communities in Cardiff’

‘Improving access to palliative care services for Minority Ethnic communities in Cardiff’Main project activities:

•Improve relationships with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities and community based agencies

•Understand barriers to local BAME communities accessing services

•Increase support for terminally ill BAME people, their carers and families

•Increase the number of terminally ill BAME people using palliative care services

Main outcomes

A 81% increase in people from BAME communities accessing Marie Curie hospice services in Cardiff.

Increasing links and improving relationships with local BAME community organisations.

Recognition within Welsh Assembly. BAME care needs on key stakeholders’ agendas. Lessons and practice for sharing. Extensive consultation.

Assumptions and misunderstandings

BAME people ‘care for their own’

•not always prefer or equipped to do so

•financial and economic pressures

•move away from traditional lifestyle.

However, still stigma attached to having a relative in a hospice

•seen as a mum, daughter or carer not doing their job

•fears about the hospice and perceptions of what happens there

•cultural attitudes to illness, i.e. families and patients hiding their

illness from others.

Improving access to services

Removing barriers to access

• Increase awareness of Marie Curie the hospice and its services

• Marie Curie cares for people with all terminal illnesses - not just cancer

• Address stigma - the assumption that admission to a hospice signals the end of life

• Marie Curie hospices also support carers and families.

• Use clear language - ‘hospice’, ‘palliative care’ and ‘symptoms’ may not translate directly or may not be easily understood.

Meeting cultural and religious needs

Prayers and rituals are important for patients and families.

Assuring service users that their religious needs would be accommodated e.g.

•a quiet multi-faith room for people with different faiths/ beliefs to pray, reflect or contemplate

•making items and symbols available – e.g. prayer mats, a sign for the direction to Mecca, Tassibee prayer beads, a Quran, pictures or statues of Hindu Gods and a copy of the Geeta holy book

•having links with multi-faith support organisations

•Meeting dietary needs

•respecting different cultural and religious backgrounds.

Diverse and inclusive workforce

Removing barriers, building trust and welcoming diversity:

•a welcoming environment.

•BAME visibility in the workforce, including volunteers

•workforce being culturally aware of the needs of BAME patients, carers and families.

Case Studies

Case Studies