We are delighted to share the news of a new NHS-commissioned project that has launched in Sutton & Merton, South West London. This initiative marks the latest collaboration between End of Life Doula UK and the NHS, building on the success of previous projects in Leeds and, most recently, Kingston and Richmond.
The Sutton & Merton project will see our trained End of Life Doulas working alongside GPs and medical centres throughout the area, offering practical and emotional support to individuals and families navigating the complexities of end of life.
A key focus of this project is advance planning. With increasing recognition of the importance of person-centred care, this collaboration will help individuals consider and articulate their wishes for the future, or the future of a dying relative. Our doulas will support conversations around topics such as Lasting Power of Attorney, Advance Decisions to Refuse Treatment (ADRT), and end of life preferences such as where an individual would prefer to die, providing a safe, compassionate space for individuals and families to explore their options.
“We’re proud to be building on the success of our earlier NHS collaborations with this new project in Sutton & Merton. It’s a testament to the growing understanding of how end of life doula support can compliment other services and transform experiences for individuals, families, and even clinical teams. Our doulas are here to accompany people through some of life’s most challenging moments — and we’re honoured to be doing that in partnership with the NHS.”
— Emma Clare, CEO, End of Life Doula UK
This project highlights the growing acknowledgment within the healthcare system of the vital role that emotional and practical support plays at the end of life. By working in partnership with clinical teams, our doulas will offer holistic support that complements the medical and care models, enhancing the experience of those approaching end of life, and their families.
As with our previous NHS partnerships, we will be collecting feedback and evaluating outcomes to help inform best practice and support the mindful integration of end of life doulas into broader care systems whilst protecting their unique way of working.
We are deeply grateful to the NHS teams in Sutton & Merton for their openness and commitment to innovation in end of life care. We have already received several patient referrals, and we look forward to sharing more updates as this exciting project develops.
If you are a GP or healthcare professional in Sutton & Merton and would like to learn more, please get in touch via our contact page – and please be sure to complete the Sutton & Merton section of the contact form.
