Experts urge terminal patients to make a will

Health experts in the north east of England are urging terminal patients to discuss their last wishes and think about making a will to help them overcome their fear of death.

Palliative care staff in South Tyneside are hoping to encourage people to tackle one of society's "last great taboos" as part of Dying Matters Awareness Week, which runs from May 16th to 22nd, the Shields Gazette reports.

The week's theme will be 'Why Dying Matters To Me' and the aim is for health workers to encourage professional will writing services, as well as urging patients to discuss making a will with their families to make their personal wishes clear.

Jackie Richardson, a palliative care worker with NHS South of Tyne and Wear Community Health Services, emphasised the importance of planning for death.

Most of us find it hard to talk about the way in which we would like to be cared for as we approach the end of our life … But the potential benefits of doing it are enormous," she told the newspaper.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that the mother of Ronnie Barker's son had left her £6.5 million estate to her three children when she died in January.

Published by Anthony Hill