Bridging the gap: strengthening relations between hospices and Muslims of Britain

The history of ‘hospice’ is rooted in Christian traditions, and hospices have historically catered for a population that was less heterogeneous than the diversity in Britain today, but most now aspire to represent and support the community they are situated in. Hospices, particularly children’s hospices, provide services to patients and relatives both during life-limiting conditions as well as at the end of life. 

Census data from 2001 and 2011 has shown the growth of minority groups, their age profile and where they reside across the country. When we explore data for faith groups we find that, after Christianity, Muslims of Britain are the second largest. In addition, Muslim communities, a population that migrated to Britain in significant numbers over the last sixty years, have an ageing first generation with specific language and cultural needs, and also a young generation that requires hospice care for a range of issues including life-limiting conditions affecting children amongst South Asian groups, particularly those residing in deprived areas.

It is for these reasons that this report asks: 

• Why is there a need for hospices and Muslim communities to engage proactively? 
• Are they reaching out to each other and working together? 
• What are some of the challenges to this engagement? 

Can we learn from good practice whilst identifying key gaps in this relationship? The report is especially interested in how these gaps can be filled, enhancing the impact of hospice care, both in terms of reach and outcomes and the way in which Muslim communities can access this type of palliative care support. 

In order to answer these questions the report looks at three key areas: 

• What do Muslim communities look like, where are they located and what is their background? 
• Are hospices and Muslim communities talking to one another and what does this engagement look like where it works well? 
• What are the gaps in this engagement and what can be done to bridge them in order to enhance the care hospices provide and the support Muslim communities are able to give to their local hospice?

Acknowledgements

This piece of work exploring hospice care and British Muslim communities has been made possible by Hospice UK and Together for Short Lives. The report was commissioned by both bodies with the aim to learn how both hospices and British Muslim communities can mutually strengthen engagement, in order that hospices may provide the support needed by children and adults.

Ally Paget, Elizabeth Sallnow, Andy Goldsmith and Dr Ros Taylor MBE kindly reviewed this report; a sincere thank you to each of you for your comments, insights and advice that have undoubtedly made this report stronger.

My final words of appreciation go to all those who participated in the research through focus groups, interviews and advice, all of which has enabled us to create this vital resource.

Authors

Sughra Ahmed and Naved Siddiqi
Woolf Institute

Published in November 2015.