Supporting people from ethnically diverse backgrounds

Exploring and understanding experiences and decisions in end of life care planning with patients and families from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

This three year study was funded by the National Institute of Health Research to provide a better understanding of the needs of ethnically diverse patients and their families when they become very ill.

Dr Zoebia talks about her work and the findings from the study with the LOROS Chief Executive:

Working with Vijay Umrao, youth worker and Station manager of EAVA FM community radio, young people are discussing what dying means to them and putting their thoughts into pictures. Young people from ethnic minority communities often have a key role in helping their family access health and care information and services.

On Saturday 7th October 2023, the 'Piecing it Together' artwork was unveiled at Haymarket Shopping Centre.  It will be available for public viewing over the next year.

In 2022 Dr Mehrunisha Suleman, Director of Medical Ethics and Law Education at the University of Oxford, gave a powerful talk about Muslim Values and End of Life healthcare decision-making.  There are 2.7 million Muslims living in the UK and there is going to be a doubling of those over 65 years of age in the next decade or so.  Little is known about their views on end of life and/or end of life care services.

Spiritual care when dying

We are consulting with people that are Muslim to understand more about how health and social care professionals can support them when they are dying and preparing for heaven especially when a family member can not be present which happened so often during COVID.  The work focuses on the Shahadah, the Declaration of faith that is of crucial importance in Islam.

Interpreters play a crucial role in facilitating effective communication when language barriers exist between professionals, patients, and their families. Professionals can lack confidence to work with interpreters and most have received no training.

Workshops of healthcare professionals and students, public and interpreters identified significant issues and strategies to bridge gaps in practice.

You can find Learning Resources to support health professionals develop competence in this area of practice.