Meet the new team looking to improve cancer care for people living with dementia here in the North East.

Connected Care

Dementia-friendly cancer care

Our Connected Care project aims to improve the care experiences of people living with both dementia and cancer.

Funded by Macmillan Cancer Support, it will put the experiences and views of people with the dual diagnosis, and their family carers, front and centre helping to inform new dementia-friendly cancer training resources for NHS staff nationally. 

Over the next two years, participants in the project will be invited to share their experiences during creative workshops with professional artists, supported by the team at St Oswald’s Hospice, who will bring expertise in compassionate conversations, bereavement support and palliative care research.

Kate Parkin, Arts & Health Programme Lead at Equal Arts, said: "Ultimately, this project is about helping develop dementia-friendly cancer care which empowers people to make informed choices and helps NHS staff to support patients’ journeys."

Help us shape the future of dementia-friendly cancer care

We're keen to hear from people who would like to join Connected Care. The project will focus on the lived experiences of people living with a dementia and cancer diagnosis, their family, carers or friends.

Through taking part in creative activities with professional artists, you will have the opportunity to share your experiences and help develop new resources to shape the future of dementia-friendly cancer care.

Informal, one-to-one workshops are being held across the autumn for those who'd like to find out more about Connected Care and how they could get involved.

Equal Arts will be supported during the project by staff from St Oswald’s Hospice, who will bring expertise in compassionate conversations, bereavement support and palliative care research. 

Laura Barrett, Community Projects Lead for Bereavement at St Oswald’s Hospice, said: "We’re really pleased that Equal Arts invited us to collaborate on this project. Some people taking part may be reflecting on very emotional experiences, including the care of loved ones who have died, so it’s vital they feel supported during the workshops. We'll also share our experience of compassionate conversations to help shape the online training for NHS staff.

"The way a diagnosis is delivered, and the healthcare conversations that follow, have a lasting impact on patients and families. This project gives people with lived experience the opportunity to shape how those conversations happen for others in the future."

Dr Felicity Dewhurst, Consultant in Palliative Medicine at St Oswald’s Hospice and NIHR Advanced Fellow in Palliative Care Research, will also contribute learning from the DECIDE study, which explored end-of-life care experiences for people living with dementia.

If you're interested in taking part, or know someone who might, we'd love to hear from you.  Please complete the short form on the right.