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Bereavement costs NHS Scotland £20 million each year

An innovative new study has found that the hidden socio-economic impact of spousal bereavement costs NHS Scotland £20 million each year.

A multidisciplinary team of researchers from across the UK and the Netherlands have recently concluded an investigation on the social and economic impact bereavement has on those living in Scotland.

The study, which was supported by the Scottish Government as part of the programme of work to improve the quality of bereavement care services in Scotland, was undertaken by researchers from Robert Gordon University (RGU), University of Dundee, University of York, University of Utrecht, NHS Tayside and Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland.

They focused on key areas of health, income and employment and found that losing a spouse is not only associated with a comparative decrease in life expectancy, but also with an increased overall likelihood of being admitted to hospital, and with a longer stay there during periods of illness.

The study team concluded that this adds up to a hidden annual extra cost for NHS Scotland of approximately £20 million.

Dr Colin Macduff from RGU’s Institute for Health and Welfare Research (IHWR) said: “More than 200,000 people in Scotland are affected each year by the loss of someone close. Bereavement has social and economic implications for families, businesses, and public organisations, as well as for other organisations which support the bereaved.”

Health economist Dr Dennis Petrie from the University of Dundee added: “Estimating costs in these areas is problematic because bereavement is only one of a number of factors that may be having an impact on social and economic trends. However, by using large linked datasets, and by applying appropriate statistical techniques to create comparison groups and control for other influences, we have been able to uncover a number of previously hidden impacts.”

The total cost of visits to GPs or practice nurses for bereavement issues was found to be around £2.2 million each year, but the study concludes that the figure is likely to be only the tip of the iceberg of associated support costs. It was also found that the bereaved are less likely to be in work during the first three years of bereavement.

The research methods employed by the team will also be useful for further investigation in Scotland and in other countries around the world.

John Birrell, leader of the study team and Convenor of the Scottish Grief and Bereavement Hub, said: “This has been an exciting and challenging project and the study’s findings will be useful both at policy level for better understanding of impacts, and at local level for raising awareness for when a bereaved person will require support.”

For more information about the research, including reports, study findings, methods and background literature, please visit the Grief and Bereavement Hub website.

Death Cafe in Kirriemuir

Last week saw the first ever Death Café in Angus, held at 88 degrees in Kirriemuir, as part of Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief Awareness Week.

The Death Café aimed to provide comfortable relaxed environment where people could meet to talk about death, focus on what is important in their lives, celebrate life and what they want to achieve. It is part of the growing Death Café movement, and to date there have been over 100 cafes in the UK and many overseas.

Seven people attended, creating an intimate and friendly atmosphere where everyone had the chance to speak and be listened to, whilst sharing delicious cake and fine coffee.

Margo Sinclair and Helen Dryden who organised the event said: “It was a special evening where everyone participated and really listened to others view points around the sensitive subject of death and dying. Although initially everyone was naturally a bit apprehensive about what to expect, we found we had so much in common and it was a fascinating enjoyable evening.

We would really like to thank the cafe owner Joanne Woodhead, who allowed us to meet after hours in her lovely cafe and provided excellent cake and beverages, and the people who attended."

For more information about the death cafe movement visit: www.deathcafe.com

 

Fife Public Embrace Awareness Week

Hundreds of people have taken part in a Fife event which has encouraged people to be more open about death and dying.

As part of Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief Awareness Week, over 200 people have recorded their aspirations about what they wish to achieve in life.

An information event held this week at the Mercat Centre in Kirkcaldy invited members of the public to record their hopes and dreams on special ‘Before I Die’ walls, which have been replicated at events nationwide.

Thoughts recorded by people from Fife included, ‘Before I Die, I want to…’:

· Have a successful life

· See my grandchildren grow up and marry

· Learn to play the saxophone

· Travel the world and be happy

· Have kids, get married and get the job of my dreams

Gordon McLaren, NHS Fife Public Health Consultant and GLGDGG Lead in Fife, said: “We’re delighted that the event in Fife has proved to be so successful. Asking people to record what they hope to achieve in their lives, allows people to also consider the fact that they won’t always be here.

“We hope that while people will think about having a good life, they will also be more open to talking about death and dying and supporting each other during a difficult time in their lives.

“The event has also allowed us to talk to many people about a range of practical elements, from Wills and Power of Attorneys to considering their wishes for a funeral.”

The Fife event was included representatives from NHS Fife, Citizen’s Advice, CRUSE, Fife Council, Maggie’s Centre and funeral services.

 

Fear of talking about illness & death costs NHS Scotland £23 million a year

THE reluctance of Scots to plan for illness and death is costing the NHS in Scotland an estimated £23m a year.

It is estimated that at any one time 150 NHS beds are taken up by people who don’t need hospital treatment but who can’t be released as they are unable to give their consent to be moved to a more appropriate care setting.

As well as costing precious NHS cash, the problem results in families having to go through lengthy and often costly legal processes to get permission to make care decisions on their loved ones behalf.

The figures have been released as the first ever awareness week aimed at encouraging Scots to talk about death is launched.

The week has been organised by campaign group Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief, who are calling on Scots to give a trusted love one power of attorney – long before they become ill.

The simple legal document allows adults to give another person the right to make decisions on their behalf if they are unable to.

Mark Hazelwood Director of Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief said: “Most people have heard of making a will, but far fewer appreciate the importance of making a power of attorney.

“Yet this simple document can save families so much money and distress and could save the NHS a lot of much needed money.

“Most people just don’t realise that they don’t have any automatic right to make decisions about the care of a loved one, even a spouse, if they are too ill to speak for themselves.

“Having to go to court can take months and can be costly, not to mention very stressful at an already difficult time.

“Often people feel that’s it morbid to think about death and don’t want to talk about it, but none of us knows what is in store around the corner so it makes sense to take this simple practical step now.

“Most people are surprised by how easy and inexpensive it is to make a power of attorney and many people will qualify simply and quickly for legal aid, especially if over retirement age”.

One man who understands the importance of power of attorney is Alan Mees who says his aunt has unnecessarily taken up a bed in hospital for almost six months at a cost of around £50,000.

The 63-year-old’s aunt was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease after being taken into hospital after a fall in autumn last year.

Former business consultant Alan, said: “There is physically little wrong with my aunt but she can’t be moved from the hospital bed.

“Her Alzheimer’s means she is classed as a vulnerable adult and can’t consent to it.

“Legally no one else can decide on her behalf without a court order to appoint a legal guardian over her affairs, however this is proving to be a very long, expensive and frustrating process.

“It’s been a very difficult time for the family with huge costs to the NHS and it could all have been avoided if only she had given power of attorney to someone.

“I think we all want to believe nothing bad will ever happen to us but the truth is that even if you are young, something could happen that will leave you unable to take decisions on your own.”

The aim of the Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief campaign is to encourage Scots to think about death, dying and bereavement.

The organisation also wants people to talk to their loved ones about they would like to die and what kind of end of life care they would want, as well as make wills and give a trusted loved one power of attorney.

For further information making a power of attorney and on all aspects of death, dying and bereavement, visit: www.goodlifedeathgrief.org.uk