UK Immigration rules impact on Care Sector in Scotland

Reanna Smith, political correspondent for the Immigration Advice Service, explores the potential impact of UK immigration rules on the social care sector in Scotland in this blog.

Organ donation 'opt-out' law will come into effect from March 2021.

On 14 September, the Scottish Government announced that legislation to introduce an opt-out system of organ and tissue donation will come into effect on 26 March 2021. Under the new law, if an adult does not opt-out of donation they will be deemed to have authorised donation for transplantation.

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Updated version of ReSPECT launched

Following feedback from professionals, patients and their families, Resuscitation Council UK has improved the ReSPECT (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) process which supports conversations about care in a future emergency. Version 3 of the ReSPECT form contains more prompts for explicit clinical reasoning. It addresses areas where misunderstandings have been reported and includes more personable and clearer language.

Care after death 3rd edition

The National Nurse Consultant Group (Palliative Care) in partnership with Hospice UK have developed updated guidance - Care after Death Guidance: for staff responsible for care after death. The guidance is endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Pathologists.

SPPC Poster Parade

This event will showcase new and innovative work from across Scotland (and perhaps beyond) in a series of rapid-fire presentations with Q&A. The event takes place on zoom, 29 October 3pm-5pm, and you can register here: SPPC Poster Parade

Sharing Current Scottish Practice

The SPPC Annual Conference in 2019 featured 32 poster displays, sharing work and research underway across Scotland. Each month, this blog focuses on the content of a few of these posters. This month, we focus on:

• Service Evaluation of Key Information Summary (KIS) Completeness and Changes over time for Patients Referred to Community Specialist Palliative Care Services
• Song writing for grief and loss: An intergenerational project between hospice patients and primary school children
• SPARC – Supportive and Palliative Action Register in the Community
• SPOT - The Safer Prescription of Opioids Tool Deployment in Clinical Practice
• The Truacanta Project – Helping Each Other with Death, Dying, Loss and Care
• Tracing Autonomy: a reflective approach in support of autonomy in life
• Welcoming the public to St. Columba’s Hospice on Edinburgh Doors Open Day

Sharing your practice

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Palliative Care and Covid-19

The October edition of the journal Palliative Medicine journal focuses on palliative care and covid-19.

Report on children in Scotland requiring palliative care

Commissioned by CHAS from Public Health Scotland, the ChiSP3 report provides the latest numbers of babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions in Scotland, as well as looking at the demographics and phases of illness of that population.

Cochrane Review: Hospital-based specialist palliative care for adults with a terminal illness

Cochrane have featured a review on Hospital-based specialist palliative care for adults with a terminal illness.

Scottish Parliament publishes briefing on school bereavement education.

On 15 September, the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) published a briefing on bereavement education in Scottish schools. SPICe published the briefing in response to a public petition calling for compulsory bereavement education in Scottish schools.

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Five years on from the publication of the Scottish Government Strategic Framework for Action for Palliative and End of Life Care, it is important to take stock and consider what is next for palliative and end of life care in Scotland.

The Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care is currently gathering evidence, experience and ideas to help shape the future strategic direction of palliative and end of life care, serious illness, dying and bereavement in Scotland.

If you'd like to input into this work, please register for one of the following events:

Shaping the Future, Sharing Ideas: (8th October, 10.30 – 1pm) This open interactive virtual workshop will take place via zoom. More details will follow, and you can register here: Shaping the future, sharing ideas

Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief: (9th October,10.30-12pm) A virtual workshop to enable those with an interest in compassionate communities/public health palliative care and other related work to contribute their thoughts and ideas. More information and registration for this event is available here: Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief - Shaping Strategy Workshop

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Instead of our usual Annual Conference, this year we bring you the SPPC Autumn Season.

The Autumn Season will consist of four bite-sized virtual events, together with a poster display and competition.

We can’t give you the neo-classical Georgian splendour of the Royal College of Physicians. However, we can invite you to join from your bedroom or busy office, without the need to travel or give up a whole day. Random cats and kids are welcome too.

Shaping the Future, Sharing Ideas

8th October, 10.30 – 1pm

The Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care is currently gathering evidence, experience and ideas inform future strategy development relating to palliative and end of life care, serious illness, dying and bereavement.

This interactive workshop is an opportunity to inform this work. More details will follow, and you can register here: Shaping the future, sharing ideas

Arts Symposium

20th October 2020

The arts team at St Columba's Hospice Care is organising an online symposium bringing together arts therapists, community artists and other arts practitioners to explore the role of the arts in palliative and bereavement care. The symposium will also feature an online arts exhibition showcasing examples of creative arts projects and work that is happening in hospices across Scotland. More details to follow. To register to this free virtual event please email: arts@stcolumbashospice.org.uk

SPPC Poster Parade

29 October 2020, 3.00pm – 5.00pm

This event will showcase new and innovative work from across Scotland (and perhaps beyond) in a series of rapid-fire presentations with Q&A. Featuring a selection of posters from the SPPC virtual poster exhibition the event will also announce the winner of the Derek Doyle poster prize. You can register for the event here: SPPC Poster Parade

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To Absent Friends - a people's festival of storytelling and remembrance

Now in its seventh year, To Absent Friends, a people's festival of storytelling and remembrance will take place from 1-7 November 2020. The festival is an opportunity to take time to remember people who have died. Over the coming weeks the website will be updated with events taking place across Scotland, and there is still plenty of time to take part. If you're interested in taking part, please check out the website for ideas of how to get involved in times of covid-19 or ways to participate online.

New members on SPPC Council

We are pleased to welcome three new members on to the SPPC Council:

• Sally Peterson, GP, NHS Tayside
• Nicky Connor, Chief Officer, Fife
• Becky Chaddock, Association of Palliative Care Social Workers

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Caring for those approaching the end of life in Scottish Hospitals

Marie Curie and the University of Glasgow have published Past, present and future: Caring for those approaching the end of life in Scottish Hospitals. The report brings together findings from work with interested stakeholders considering how palliative care in acute settings can be improved, what changes need to be made, and how we can share good practice. This report highlights a range of challenges facing acute hospitals in ensuring good palliative care and makes several recommendations.

CHAS strategic plan

Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) has published a new strategic plan - Reaching Every Family in Scotland.

Macmillan Community Grants

Macmillan Community Grants are available for community groups and organisations to apply for small grants of up to £500 to work in their local community to support people with cancer. The grants programme remain open until 1st November 2020. Funding will be provided before the end of December 2020. Please contact engagementscotland@macmillan.org.uk for more information.

Adults With Incapacity Act monitoring report 2019-20

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland has published a report monitoring the use of the Adults with Incapacity Act. It includes a section looking at DNACPR during COVID-19 with reference to involvement of guardians where someone lacks capacity.

Future of hospice care in Scotland

Hospice UK and the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group are running a joint project to explore the current contribution and future role of hospice care in meeting Scotland’s changing palliative care need. As part of this, Hospice UK is running a series of virtual focus groups to be held over Zoom. These are aimed at staff/volunteers working in any aspect of hospice care, as well as health and care professionals who work with hospices across other settings. The focus groups set so far are:

• Hospice care in the community – Tuesday 27^th October, 2 – 3.30pm
• Hospice care and care homes – Tuesday 3^rd November, 10 – 11.30am
• Hospice care in prisons – Wednesday 4^th November, 10 – 11.30am
• The future of hospice care in Scotland (aimed at senior staff/strategic leads) – Monday 9^th November 2 – 3.30pm

If you would like to attend one of the focus groups, or for more information, please contact Helen Malo, h.malo@hospiceuk.org.

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SPPC Autumn Season

The Scottish Partnership for Palliative is replacing its Annual Conference with the SPPC Autumn Season, a series of bite-sized virtual events, together with a poster display and competition. More details below.

Shaping the Future, Sharing Ideas

8th October, 10.30 – 1pm, online. Part of the SPPC Autumn Season, more information and registration is available here: SPPC Autumn Season.

Arts Symposium

20th October 2020, online. Organised by the arts team at St Columba's Hospice Care this event is part of the SPPC Autumn Season, more information and registration is available here: SPPC Autumn Season.

SPPC Poster Parade

29 October 2020, 3.00pm – 5.00pm, online. Part of the SPPC Autumn Season, more information and registration is available here: SPPC Autumn Season.

To Absent Friends, a people's festival of storytelling and remembrance

Taking place across Scotland from 1-7 November, the To Absent Friends festival is a collection of grass roots events providing communities with opportunities to celebrate and remember people who have died. More information is available here: To Absent Friends.

Social, Spiritual and Emotional Needs at the End of Life Webinar

Organised by Friends at the End. 3 November 2020. 10am-12.30. More information is available here: weblink.

Public Health Research in Palliative Care: Towards Solutions for Global Challenges

This seminar will take place online on 17 and 18 November 2020, and be an opportunity to focus on the COVID-19 Pandemic. Registration fee:€55 More information is available here: weblink

Healthcare Conferences UK

Healthcare Conferences UK have a programme of online conferences and virtual online training courses relevant to palliative and end of life care.

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