Ageing Well Series 2023/24. Talk 3: Taking Control of Dying. Accessible version

In this talk, Barbara and Victoria will present on the things we don’t talk about in preparing for our death and as a relative preparing for someone else’s death. We will also talk about ways we can take some of the control over our dying and what are the ways we can co-create our care plans.

Dr Barbara Gale, MBE - Visiting Senior Fellow in Integrated Care for the Integrated Care Academy (ICA). Barbara has 40 years of experience working in end-of-life care, with a background in nursing, palliative care and systemic family therapy. Most recently, Barbara was Chief Executive of St Nicholas Hospice Care from 2007 to 2021, developing innovative models of care, built on public health and asset-based community development approaches to palliative care.

Dr Victoria Hedges - Victoria works as a Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Sobell House hospice in Oxford. She provides specialist advice for patients in a broad range of settings (including in the community and hospitals). She also works with the Oxford Kidney Unit, providing supportive care for patients and their families who are making complex decisions, such as stopping haemodialysis.