22nd January 2025
London Ambulance Service organises Seminar ‘Supporting Jewish and Muslim Patients During Death and Dying’ at Hammerson House, Wohl Campus, London.
The London Ambulance Service (LAS) hosted a Seminar at Hammerson House, Wohl Campus on the 22nd January on the topic of ‘Supporting Jewish and Muslim Patients During Death and Dying’. The seminar, directed towards clinicians of all grades working within the LAS, included organisers Dr Lyann Gross (Assistant Medical Director at LAS as well as GP at Hammerson House, Wohl Campus), Amy Walton (Trainee Specialist Paramedic) and speakers Dr Yossi Spitzer (GP and author of ‘A Guide to the orthodox Way of Life for Health Care Professionals’), representatives from Misaskim, Dr Jo Ish-Horowicz (Lead Medical Examiner for Barnet), Sidney Sinitsky (Jewish Burial Society) and Mohamed Omer (Co-Founder of Gardens of Peace).
During the event, both faith’s end-of-life beliefs were explored, whilst discussing the practical ways to support patients and their relatives in these difficult times. There were also updates on the Medical Examiner Service. The engagement between the LAS professionals, together with faith leaders, palliative care teams and Dr Ish-Horowicz produced many topics of discussion in the different cultural ways people can be looked after at the end-of-life.
The event ended with a panel discussion including all the speakers, together with Kevin Cuddon (Clinical Lead at Hatzola Northwest and Advanced Paramedic in Critical Care for LAS), Maggie Fitzgerald (Nurse Specialist from North London Hospice), representatives from the LAS End-of-Life Care Chaplaincy and the local District Nursing Team.
“This has been a fabulous opportunity to bring together many professionals in the community who care for people at the end-of-life. Over the years, it has been inspiring to see my LAS colleagues strive to do whatever possible to provide person-centred care in these situations and to always ask what more they can do to support our patients’ religious beliefs.” Dr Lyann Gross, Assistant Medical Director for the London Ambulance Service
“With the increasing pressure the London Ambulance Service is facing when looking after people at the end-of-life, including those in care homes, it is important that all the faith leaders and healthcare professionals work together to provide holistic compassionate care to people at the end of their lives, and their relatives.” Nuno Santos Lopes, Director of Research, Innovation and Community Engagement
For further information, please contact Catherine Michie, Event and Marketing Manager, Nightingale Hammerson. camichie@nightingalehammerson.org
