Background In 2019 Compton Care completed a study (CCUES) to understand the views and opinions of the South Asian community. Four key themes were identified relating to cultural barriers and access to palliative care services:

1. Communication.

2. Lack of understanding of services.

3. Stigma.

4. Intergenerational differences and conflict.

Aims and Methods The SOCH project aimed to produce materials to support and encourage conversations regarding advance care planning (ACP) within the South Asian community. Existing resources were limited. It was identified that creating culturally sensitive resources would help with communication and raise awareness. To support project delivery, a South Asian Community Engagement Worker was employed to engage with the South Asian community to start conversations on advance care planning.

The project steering group worked with our ‘Expert Advisory Group’ which included local partners and key stakeholders, to review our localised ACP documentation and to contribute towards the development of culturally sensitive materials:

ACP short film Produced to improve understanding of ACP, encouraging conversations about future care planning and communicating wishes with loved ones. The film has actors speaking in four South Asian languages, with subtitles in English.

ACP documents (My Care & Me): Translated into Punjabi, Gujarati, Urdu, Hindi and Bengali. Helping patients and their families understand ACP in their own language.

Bereavement support Compton Care bereavement leaflets translated into the three main South Asian languages.

Outcomes These resources are used as part of a suite of tools used with patients and families in Wolverhampton. Compton Care clinicians and our BAME Support Worker utilise these culturally sensitive resources to raise awareness, support conversations and increase the likelihood of an advance care plan being completed.

Project funding was provided by NHS England and NHS Improvement, and delivered in partnership with Compton Care, Wolverhampton Royal Trust and the University of Wolverhampton.