Latest news from SPPC

Alzheimer Scotland publishes palliative care report: June 2009

Source: Alzheimer Scotland, June 2009

Winner of a Principles into Practice Award 2009, the Alzheimer Scotland Beyond Barriers Project set out to develop current care practice in care homes by supporting both staff and relatives to meet the palliative care needs of people in the later stages of dementia.

Beyond Barriers took an innovative approach, involving care home staff and relatives together in a training programme which put communication with the person with dementia at the core, and supporting staff to improve practice through action learning. A report summarising the impact and learning gained from the project is available at: http://www.alzscot.org/pages/beyond-barriers-palliative-care-report.htm

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland consultation on Draft Clinical Standards: Prevention and Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease

NHS QIS is currently running a consultation on these draft clinical standards. Standard 18 deals with palliative care.  The consultation will run until 22 May 2009.  For more information see the NHS QIS website: http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/5389.html

Family companion guide for care pathway launched: May 2009

May 2009

ACT has launched a new publication to help families and carers of children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions understand what will happen following their child’s diagnosis.  A Family Companion to the ACT Care Pathway for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions takes parents though the care journey that they and their child will experience, step by step.

For further details see: www.act.org.uk

Palliative care project wins Care Accolades 2009 award: June 2009

Source: Scottish Social Services Council, June 2009

BUPA’s project to implement the Liverpool Care Pathway scooped the award for best partnership working in adult services at the Care Accolades 2009 ceremony held in Dundee in June.

The Care Accolades, now in its sixth year, has been called the Oscars for social services, and highlights some of the excellent work that takes place and touches the lives of all of us at some point. This year a record number of entries were received from local authority, voluntary and private social service agencies across Scotland.

The BUPA project worked with world leading experts Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Liverpool Care Pathway Team to review the approach to the care of care home residents and their families, particularly to include palliative care awareness. The Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) is a continuous quality improvement framework of the care of the dying irrespective of diagnosis or place of death. The LCP can be used to influence practice but also has an impact on the culture of care.

The LCP was rolled out to Rodgerpark and Rowantree Care homes in Rutherglen and involved joint working amongst the care home staff, the Marie Curie nurse and GPs and will be phased out to other care homes.

BUPA said:

“It’s wonderful seeing the home and our work getting recognition. It raises the profile for caring for people dying in care homes and how it has changed. The Care Accolades are very worthwhile. It is also fantastic for the corporate profile.”

Another palliative care project reached the finals of the award ceremony. Angus Council’s Palliative Care Project was a finalist in the best leading on learning programme. This involved a training programme to raise awareness of palliative care and improve the lives of people and their families. Staff undertook the Marie Curie Cancer Care training for trainer’s course which equipped the staff to deliver palliative care course to the wider staff group.

To find out more and see film clips of each of the projects please visit the SSSC website www.sssc.uk.com