Trigger Warning: This discussion has mention of death, dying and end of life/palliative care. Please refrain from listening if you feel this could be traumatising at this time. There are links for internal (University) and external listeners, if you feel affected or have been affected by any details of this Podcast. On this episode: “Service Users Mini-Series: Episode 5 – Homeward Bound: Creative Storytelling” We speak to Lesley Goodburn from the Service Users Group (SUC’s) but also works within the NHS for the National Experience Care Team for the last 16 years. Lesley shares both her personal and professional experience around creative storytelling. Following the sudden loss of her husband Seth, there were feelings of a lack of compassion and decision making, which led to the creation of personal letters. These letters and stories were then made into a play, and then a film, known as Homeward Bound: Seth’s Story. Lesley aims to improve end of life care, emotional and psychological support, and increase awareness of Pancreatic cancer. Recently, these letters have been shared with universities to assist with fundamentals of compassion and quality of end-of-life care. We discuss the impact of creative stories, what forms that can come in and how patient experiences can improve NHS services. To date, Lesley has helped with the creation of four national policies for the NHS, as well as helping to share and develop others’ stories. We also touch on how the process of creative storytelling helped her own personal experiences, advocating for stories but also helping to deal with anger and loss. November is Pancreatic Awareness month, and the 21st November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day. If you want to share any pictures that include the colour purple to share with Lesley, please email Kirsty.egan@student.staffs.ac.uk and these will be passed over! Web links from the show: Service User and Carer Team (SUC’s) The webpage for the SUC’s group, and how they work with universities and the future of the workforce to share personal experiences and improve services. Homeward Bound: Seth’s Story Here you can watch the whole play that Lesley spoke about, as well as access resources. What is Pancreatic Cancer? If you want to find out more about Pancreatic cancer, or the common symptoms then please visit the link above. Sophie’s Legacy Here you will find all the information about Sophie’s Legacy and the awareness that is being shared to improve NHS services. And if anybody is interested, it was Hazelnut souffle and cookies that her and Gordon Ramsay baked! Georgie Steele – And I’ll Blow Your House Down Here you will find the trailer for the show created by Georgie, opening up on life and experience with her two sons following their diagnosis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The Grief Dialogues Stories – Elizabeth Coplan Elizabeth Coplan from the United States and the different types of stories, art and creativity being shared through experiences of grief. Storytelling – NHS 2015 A popular method of sharing knowledge with others to be passed on in a way that others can relate to. Widely used to convey personal matters and experiences and these stories can be presented in many ways – in person, video, audio, podcast, blog. Exploring the Impact of Storytelling for Hospitalized Patients – Gurney et al., 2023 Storytelling is an intervention that has been used to help patients make sense of their illness experiences, and to share with others. Helps to ‘re-author’ their life stories to reflect a more capable, stronger self-identity. Wellbeing/Mental Health Support Contacts: If you are a student or staff member at the University of Staffordshire and have been affected by any of the topics that have been discussed in this podcast, don’t struggle alone, the University are here to help… Contact Wellbeing Support on 01782 294976 or by emailing studentwellbeing@staffs.ac.uk. For external listeners, mental health crisis lines and suicide prevention contacts can be found below. Please reach out if you feel you need to! NHS Mental Health Services - https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/ Mind Support and Services - https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/ Samaritans Contact - https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ Upcoming Podcasts: Death within other religions, Human factors and ergonomics and how AI can be utilised within neurodivergence! br> Previous Podcasts: Race, Transgender, Neurodiversity, Impacts of trauma, Mature student experiences, Transition from student to healthcare professional, and also specialised areas such as mental health and organ transplant teams. Want to get involved? Are you a student? Member of staff? A Healthcare worker? Do you have a topic you would like to share? Get in touch! Let’s Pod! Contact The Link podcast team: @TheLinkPodcast_ on X (formally Twitter) Ben W-H - @benw_h on X ben.woodrow-hirst@staffs.ac.uk Kirsty Egan - @KirstyODP on X kirsty.egan@student.staffs.ac.uk Hosted by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst Produced & Edited by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst & Kirsty Egan Artwork: Shaun Kelly Theme Music: Gavin Samways
