Talking about Dying

Elaine Sugden worked in Leeds in the 1970s as a doctor of children with leukaemia before moving with her family to India for six years. From 1984 she worked in adult oncology in Oxford, and from 1995 as a consultant treating adults and children with cancer. She wrote her contributions to this book after retiring in 2013, based on her years as a practising doctor. Elaine continues to be involved in a European organization working for those treated for cancer when children. Her booklet Caring for People with Cancer, based on a series of seminars in India, was published in 1998. Philip Giddings taught at the University of Reading from 1972 until his retirement as Head of the School of Politics and International Relations in 2011. Philip was an elected member of the Church of England General Synod from 1985-2015, and of Archbishops' Council from 2001-2015, and he chaired its Mission and Public Affairs Council from 2003-2011. He has twice been widowed. His other publications are in the field of Parliamentary affairs and the Ombudsman institution. Martin Down is an Anglican priest who served in country parishes in Lincolnshire and Norfolk until 2012 when he retired to live in Oxfordshire. Martin is author of several books including The Best Is Yet To Be: Being happy in retirement and old age (2012) and The Christian Hope: A guide to life after death (2016). Gareth Tuckwell was Medical Director of Burrswood Christian Hospital, and CEO from 1986-2012, and Medical Director and Clinical Director at Hospice in the Weald from 2003-2007. He has been involved with Macmillan Cancer Support as both a regional director and trustee. Until 2020 he chaired Sanctuary Trust and the ME Trust. He remains vice-president of Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care. Gareth contributed to 'A Time to Heal', a report for the House of Bishops in 2000, A Question of Healing (Eagle, 2000) and Transforming Health (MARC 2005).

Foreword to the first edition by Lord Mackay of Clashfern

Start here

Why and how we need to talk about dying
Philip Giddings

Chapter 1
Coping with life-threatening illness
Elaine Sugden

Chapter 2
Difficult decisions
Elaine Sugden

Chapter 3
Talking about dying: When? Where? How?
Elaine Sugden

Chapter 4
Coping with the unexpected
Philip Giddings

Chapter 5
Suicide
Elaine Sugden

Chapter 6
The death of a baby
Elaine Sugden

Chapter 7
Talking to children
Elaine Sugden

Chapter 8
Talking about life after death
Martin Down

Chapter 9
Facing up to fear
Martin Down

Chapter 10
Praying for healing
Gareth Tuckwell

Chapter 11
Practical Matters
Martin Down

Chapter 12
Suggestions of ways to help
Elaine Sugden and Philip Giddings

Endpiece
Where to find more help

Useful Websites Bibliography

Appendix 1
Advance Care Planning

Appendix 2
Preparing for an expected death at home

Appendix 3
What to do after a death at home

About the authors

Index