Description
Martin McGinn, lecturer in design at Ulster University, presented his talk Design for Community End‑of‑Life Care: A Reflection on Practice at NCAD on 4 September 2025. He explained why he and local professionals launched Life & Time, a community‑led end‑of‑life service in rural Northern Ireland. Changes to GP out‑of‑hours contracts in 2004 meant many rural practices no longer offered home visits; by 2024 nearly 42 % of GPs were expected to retire, leaving few doctors able to deliver end‑of‑life care at night. Rising mortality rates and long travel distances compounded the problem.Life & Time was designed as an alternative to hospital or hospice care, for those that wished to die at home. McGinn’s design challenge was to give people more choice in their care plans by enabling a home death with support equal to hospital or hospice levels. The charity’s mission statement defines its service as community‑based and community‑funded, offering additional care (10 pm – 8 am) for adults at or near the end of life, regardless of cause.
The project used co‑design to ensure it met real community needs. A voluntary committee formed in 2017 included a retiring GP, six local nurses, a lawyer, an accountant and a designer. Stakeholders held public meetings and workshops, working with families and GP practices to shape the service. This collaborative approach produced a person‑centred model that complements NHS, hospice and charitable services.
Life & Time trains and employs nurses from within its service areas, which reduces response times and respects local cultures. The charity recruits community volunteers and raises funds locally, reinforcing the idea that end‑of‑life care is a shared responsibility. By encouraging conversations about death and dying, the service builds “death literacy” in the community and empowers families to plan ahead.
Dr Henry McLaughlin, a former GP who served the Rostrevor and Warrenpoint areas for more than 25 years, founded Life & Time after leaving general practice. He now serves as the charity’s medical officer and continues to work part‑time with the Southern Area Hospice . His medical expertise and local connections helped establish the service and ensure its clinical quality.
McGinn’s presentation illustrates how design thinking can address complex health‑care challenges. By combining professional expertise with community insight, Life & Time provides a replicable model for rural palliative care. As you reflect on this case, consider how similar co‑design approaches could be used to tackle other gaps in health or social services in your community.
| Period | 4 Sept 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event title | NCAD x BSoA Research Forum #1 |
| Event type | Seminar |
| Location | Dublin, IrelandShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | National |