Palliative Care Academy

For every person, at any stage

Spanning multiple neurological conditions, this Academy highlights the importance of palliative care throughout any disease trajectory, offering an expansive learning opportunity applied to several conditions.

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For every person, at any stage

Palliative Care Academy challenges the idea of palliative care as a late-stage service. Whilst recognising the practical nuances and bespoke approaches needed in palliative care for people with dementia, Parkinson's, MS and motor neurone disease respectively, the Academy promotes a holistic and positive approach to palliative care at any stage of any condition.

Our Palliative Care MasterClass is for all health professionals involved in palliative care for neurological conditions – including allied health professionals, doctors (grade SpR and above), specialist nurses, community teams and GPs.

Unique cross-specialism, cross-condition learning

One of our few thematic courses, Palliative Care Academy unites specialists from a host of different backgrounds and skill sets as well as spanning a variety of neurological conditions. Examining the commonalities and principles of palliative care across the board, the course also zeros in on the nuances and needs particular to each individual condition, creating vibrant and varied discussions and a unique opportunity for cross-specialist sharing and collaboration.

Spearheading a new perspective on palliative care

Academic Director Dr Ed Richfield feels strongly that 'The principles of palliative care should be applied throughout someone’s journey' and advocates that palliative care begins with a good diagnosis. This fresh perspective on palliative care as a set of values to bring to any consultation or discussion with someone living with a neurological condition inspires change in individual practice and transformation of care at a grassroots level.

Transferable model of learning

Our course format and learning style create an entirely transferable model which can be replicated for any disease area, whilst each courses' content is entirely unique. Our Palliative Care MasterClasses bring together a wide range of practitioners with varying skillsets and specialisms and our content is tailored to individual learning needs through a modular system.

Forthcoming Palliative Care Academy MasterClasses and events...



About

Spanning multiple neurological conditions, this Academy highlights the importance of palliative care throughout any disease trajectory, offering an expansive learning opportunity applied to several conditions.

Dr Ed Richfield about the Palliative Care Academy

Who are these courses for?

The Palliative Care MasterClasses are aimed at all health professionals involved in palliative care for neurological conditions – including allied health professionals, doctors (grade SpR and above), specialist nurses, community teams and GPs.

“Exploring the emerging specialty of neuro-palliative care, drawing on skills from neurology, palliative care and geriatric medicine in a relaxed, collaborative environment. A great chance to join this rapidly developing area of practice”

Dr Ed Richfield, Palliative Care Academy faculty

The MasterClasses cover some of the following topics:

  • Specific unmet palliative care needs in Parkinson’s, dementia, MS and MND
  • Palliative assessment tools
  • Disease-specific issues faced by patients
  • Commonly encountered medications and their side effects
  • Terminal stages – particularly how to identify and manage drug therapies in final days
  • Service considerations and delivery
  • Promoting autonomy – how and when to consider ACP in the context of cognitive impairment
  • Examples of good practice, discussion of how such practice could be spread and incorporated elsewhere
  • Future directions and research, quality improvement opportunities
‘It is difficult for clinicians to learn pathophysiology from textbooks/papers and much easier to learn from workshops like these’

MasterClass feedback

→ What delegates say about the course


Study grants

Potential funding opportunities may be available as follows:

Supporters

Our work is made possible because of the wider support we receive, and we are incredibly grateful. Thanks to that support, we are transforming healthcare and changing the lives of people living with neurological conditions.

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Articles

Palliative Care Academy
News and articles

14 Feb 2024 Posted in Knowledge

Palliative care is for everyone

Every healthcare professional has a role in providing and supporting palliative discussions and services from the point of diagnosis all the way through to the end of life.For someone with a neurological condition, those conversations can happen with their specialist nurse, their occupational therapist, their consultant or their physiotherapist.

Read more

People

We are led and supported by experts with a variety of backgrounds across a range of disciplines

By bringing different passions to the Academy, they ensure we maintain a high quality of content and information across a diverse field of knowledge.
Dr Ed Richfield
Consultant in elderly medicine
Dr Ross Dunne
Consultant old age psychiatrist
Prof Suresh Chhetri
Consultant Neurologist
Prof Siva Nair
Consultant neurologist
Dr Eleanor Smith
Consultant in Palliative Medicine
Dr Laura McTague
Consultant in Palliative Medicine and Medical Lead
Jennifer Casson
Team leader for the advanced dementia support team, occupational therapist
Sean White
NIHR clinical doctoral research doctoral fellow
Dr George Crowther
Consultant in Old Age Liaison Psychiatry
Dr Jeremy Cosgrove
Consultant Neurologist
Dr Gemma Cummins
Consultant Neurologist
Pauline Callagher
Care Centre Co-ordinator