A photography exhibition in the Senedd aims to provide an insight into end of life care.

The film above is part of the What Matters Most? display and explores how end of life care can be improved based on the experiences of those affected. It is sponsored by Mark Isherwood MS.

He said: “The ethos in our hospices and palliative care providers is that we are not about death, we are about life, it is all about life right until the end and afterwards. So it is about the life of the individual with a life-limiting condition during their journey and at the end but its also about the lives of their families and loved ones throughout that process and afterwards.”

What Matters Most? gives an account of what’s important in life and in death, aimed at improving end of life care through sharing the experiences of those receiving and delivering care.

The project was inspired by Same but Different photographer and director Ceridwen Hughes’ own experience of end of life care, when her mother died in 2020. Through photography, film, and written narratives, the exhibition introduces the experiences of those living with dying and the caregivers involved in providing care and support.

By 2040, it’s estimated that the demand for palliative care will increase by 42% in England and Wales. It’s hoped the exhibition will have a key role in changing approaches to palliative care.

What Matters Most? is a collaborative creative project between Same but Different, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, and the National Lottery Community Fund.

The exhibition is running until the 15th of February, next week there will be a debate on hospice care and how services can be improved.