National Care Service (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1 Report

The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s Stage 1 Report on the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill has now been published. Relating to the National Care Service principles, the report includes the following: 

"205. The Committee highlights evidence that the principle that 'services provided by the National Care Service are to be centred around early interventions that prevent or delay the development of care needs and reduce care needs that already exist' is viewed by many as not suitably acknowledging the needs and circumstances of those in receipt of social care services who may be disabled, have long-term conditions or be approaching the end of life. The Committee calls on the Scottish Government to consider how this principle can be clarified, amended or supplemented to address these specific concerns."

Read the Stage 1 Report in full here.

Dementia Strategy: initial 2-year delivery plan - 2024 to 2026

The Scottish Government has published a delivery plan setting out how Scottish Government and COSLA will work with the voices of lived experience and delivery partners to begin to realise the vision for change set out in the new dementia strategy for Scotland: Everyone's Story.

Read the delivery plan in full here.

Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide

The House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee has published a report on Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide.  The report can be accessed here: House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee Report: Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Dying Well has published a comment on above report here: All Party Parliamentary Group for Dying Well 

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Survey: Proposed New Core Healthcare Standards

Healthcare Improvement Scotland are currently working to develop a set of standards outlining the core requirements for all healthcare services.  As part of the consultation process for this work, they have created a survey about these proposed new standards. The consultation closing date is Wednesday 3 April. For further information, please contact his.standardsandindicators@nhs.scot. 

Cancer and Domestic Abuse: a Toolkit for Professionals

This new toolkit, launching at the end of March, is designed to help healthcare professionals to both identify and respond to signs of domestic abuse within their patients and carers.  The toolkit was written as part of the Macmillan Cancer Support funded cancer and domestic abuse project in partnership with Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston, and The Royal Marsden, with contributions from a multi-sectoral national working group.   Please sign up here to receive a meeting invitation for the virtual launch of the toolkit on Tuesday 26^th March at 11am – 12pm.

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Demystifying Death Week is about giving people knowledge, skills and opportunities to plan and support each other through death, dying, loss and care. It will take place across Scotland 6-12 May 2024. 

What are the small things that make a big difference?

This year, the theme of Demystifying Death Week is small things can make a big difference. During the week we'll be sharing examples of some of the things that, though they may seem small or insignificant, can make a big difference to someone who is seriously ill, or dying, or grieving, or caring for a loved one. 

Do you have an example of something 'small' that made a big difference to you when you were ill or grieving? 

Or have you done something seemingly inconsequential that you believe made an important positive impact for an individual or family facing end of life issues? 

If so, we'd love to hear from you. Please email your reflections to: samara@palliativecarescotland.org.uk

Small grants available

A small grants fund has been set up to support organisations to put on events as part of Demystifying Death Week 2024. Grants of up to £250 are available. The deadline for receipt of completed applications is 12pm on 22 March 2024.

More information, resources and ideas, as well as the application form, are available here: DD Week Small Grants scheme.

Getting ready for Demystifying Death Week: Lunchtime Chat

Are you thinking of putting on an event for Demystifying Death Week?

If so, join us on zoom on 4th March for a lunchtime chat. Low-key and informal, this is a chance to get together with others to discuss ideas and plans. There'll be an opportunity to talk through potential applications for the Small Grants Fund, find out about other available resources and chat through ideas.

To register, please email: rebecca@palliativecarescotland.org.uk.

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European Grief Conference 2024: Call For Abstracts Is Now Open.

EGC welcomes a broad range of abstracts on bereavement and grief-related topics with a focus on research, education/policy or practice aligned to levels of the public health model of bereavement. For the 2024 Dublin conference, abstracts on abstracts on suicide bereavement are especially welcome, and will be curated into dedicated parallel sessions. Full details on the abstract call are available here. The deadline for submission is 25 March 2024.  The European Grief Conference will be held in Dublin from 11-13 November 2024.

Seeking interviews: Perspectives of workers and volunteers in charity and community spaces related to death and dying

Alix Aylward, a University of Edinburgh Medical Sciences student, is seeking to interview people who participate in charity and community spaces relating to death to have a chat about their perspectives.  The project aims to explore how people who work with those that are dying understand death and dying. There will be an additional focus on the concepts of ‘death positivity’ and the ideals of a ‘good death’. Read the information sheet here.

To find out more about the study, or if you are interested in taking part, please contact Alix Aylward (s2146634@ed.ac.uk) or supervisor Dr Sarah Wright (S.J.Wright@ed.ac.uk).  The deadline for participation recruitment is Friday 1st March 2024.

Towards an innovative Virtual Ward initiative for specialist palliative care: Service Evaluation Findings from St Columba's Hospice Care

St Columba's Hospice Care in Edinburgh has recently completed an evaluation of its Virtual Ward initiative. Read the report in full here.

University of Dundee Master of Public Health (Palliative Care Research)

This postgraduate course at the University of Dundee is for those looking to develop their careers in palliative care. Learn about the challenges facing palliative care research and how clinical research can be undertaken using public health research principles. Benefit from interactions with a network of palliative care stakeholders and immerse yourself in a rich teaching environment linked to an active palliative care service. Find out more here. Hear from one of the course's recent graduates here.

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Palliative Care Poster Parade

The SPPC Palliative Care Poster Parade will showcase some of the latest best practice and initiatives relating to improving experiences of living with serious illness, dying and bereavement in Scotland and further afield. The parade will launch on the SPPC website on 11th March. Join us for the Poster Parade Event in the afternoon of Tuesday 26 March 2024 where a selection of poster exhibitors will give brief presentations of their work. Book your place here: Palliative Care Poster Parade  

Each year, the Derek Doyle Poster Prize is awarded to the poster that gets the most public votes. You'll be able to vote for your favourite poster from 11 March - 23 March.

Moving from talk to action on bereavement: Improving signposting

Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief and the Scottish Bereavement Charter Group are organising a series of events to encourage action around the 10 recommendations from the Scottish Bereavement Summit Report

The first of these events took place on 23rd January, and explored how to improve signposting to bereavement information and support. More information, including a recording of the presentations given at the session, is available here: Moving from Talk to Action on Bereavement

A follow-up event, "Improving Signposting Part II", will take place on Tuesday 19th March, to explore how the sector can build on this to take action that will achieve meaningful change. You can book your place here.

SPPC Organisational Strategy

SPPC is reviewing its organisational strategy.  Thanks to the very many who responded to the recent stakeholder survey.  Your responses helped to inform a recent workshop of Council members.  We plan a further phase of engagement over the summer and then consultation on a draft strategy in the autumn.  We are keen that our work reflects the values and priorities of stakeholders.

Assisted Dying

SPPC plans to hold a workshop on this topic, once the draft Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is published. More details to follow.

Save the Date: SPPC Annual Conference 2024

SPPC’s annual conference will take place on Wednesday 6^th November 2024. We hope to see you there! More information will be available in due course.

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NHS Education for Scotland: Near Me E-Learning Modules

Near Me is a web-based system that helps public sector providers offer video call access to their services. It is provided to public service organisations free of charge. Information about Near Me, including e-Learning modules with information about how to use it, are available on the NHS Education Scotland (NES) website. If you have any questions, please contact the Digitally Enabled Workforce team in NES by email at nes.dew@nhs.scot

Macmillan Education and Training

One of Macmillan’s most popular e-learning courses, Essential Palliative and End of Life Care has been relaunched on the Learning Hub.  It is for any professional who wishes to increase their understanding and awareness of this topic and increase their confidence when supporting people in the last months, weeks and days of their lives. The updated content provides an overview of palliative and end of life care (PEOLC) over three modules: What is Palliative and End of Life Care; Pain and symptom management; Care of the dying person – explore how to identify when someone is in last weeks, hours or days of life and the principles of care at this time.

You can find out more about this course and many others in Macmillan’s education and training open community space.

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Getting ready for Demystifying Death Week: Lunchtime Chat

Organised by Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief. 4 March, 1pm, on Zoom. 

Are you thinking of putting on an event for Demystifying Death Week? If so, join us on zoom on 4th March for a lunchtime chat. Low-key and informal, this is a chance to get together with others to discuss ideas and plans. There'll be an opportunity to talk through potential applications for the Small Grants Fund, find out about other available resources and chat through ideas. To register, please email: rebecca@palliativecarescotland.org.uk.

Being Ready training days: "Trans and gender diverse experiences of dying, death and bereavement"

Organised by the Being Ready Project and GIRES. Day-long training sessions for health and social care, bereavement, and funeral professionals led by Ash Hayhurst and Angie McLachlan.  Email being.ready@gires.org.uk with any questions about the training.  For a list of dates and locations checkout the Being Ready website.

Scottish safe staffing webinar – implications for hospices

Organised by Hospice UK. Monday 11 March, 10 – 11.30am, online.  You can find out more and register here.

Advanced European Bioethics Course: “Suffering, Death and Palliative Care”

Organised by the section of Healthcare Ethics, IQ healthcare, (Radboudumc university medical centre). 12 - 15 March 2024, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. 

For more information please visit the website or contact Valesca Hulsman at Valesca.Hulsman@radboudumc.nl.

NES Webinar: "Experiencing the death of a colleague: Supporting yourself and others"

Organised by NHS Education for Scotland. Thursday 14^th March 12:30-13:30, online. It will be of relevance to all health and social care staff. 

More information is available on the linked flyer. You can register here.

Moving from Talk to Action on Bereavement: "Improving Signposting to Bereavement Information and Support - Part II"

Organised by the Bereavement Charter Group and Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief. 19 March 2024, online. A follow-up to the 'Moving from Talk to Action on Bereavement: Improving Signposting' event that took place on 23 January 2024.

More information is available here: weblink.

Microcredential course: "End of Life Challenges and Palliative Care"

Organised by The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow. Ten-week on online part time microcredential course beginning 15 April 2024.

For more information and to register, visit the FutureLearn course webpage.

Living Well Dying Well Death Doula Foundation Course in Dumfries

Organised by Living Well Dying Well Training. 16, 17, 18 April and 4 and 5 June, Shambellie House, New Abbey, Dumfries. The code for this course is DFF24-9.

For more information and to book, please visit the LWDW website.

Free Webinar: "Migrants and healthcare: views from the frontline of serious and terminal illness"

Organised by the Marie Curie-funded Financial Insecurity Project. 24 April 2024, 2:00-4:30pm, online via Teams.

Please register here. If you have any questions, you can contact the research team at financialinsecurity@stir.ac.uk.

Respite care for Children with Complex Neurodisability (save the date)

Organised by Children'st Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).  Edinburgh, 25 April. Find out more in this preliminary flyer. 

Current Issues in Palliative Care (CIPC) Conference

Organised by MA Healthcare. Thursday 25 April 2024, America Square Conference Centre, London. For more information, visit the conference website.

6^th All Island Children’s Palliative Care Conference: "Challenging the Boundaries: Antenatal to Adulthood"

Organised by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC). 25 – 26 April 2024. The Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland. To view the programme, submit an abstract, or register, visit the CPCC website.

NES Annual Virtual Conference 2024: "Developing a Compassionate, Skilled and Sustainable Workforce Through Innovative Education and Technology"

The NES Annual Virtual Conference will take place Thursday 25 - Friday 26 April 2024.

Find out more at the conference website.

Palliative Arts No. 17 Talks: "Musical Synergy: An exploration of collaborative approaches with orchestras in children’s hospices" by Victoria Kammin

Organised by St Columba's Hospice Palliative Arts No. 17 Talks. Friday, 26 April 2024, 6pm. Hybrid event taking place at No.17 Boswall Road, Edinburgh and online via Zoom. 

For more information and to book your place, please visit the event webpage.

Employer Seminar: "Supporting Employees through Bereavement"

Organised by the group behind the Bereavement Charter for Children & Adults in Scotland, in collaboration with Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief. 30 April 2024, Edinburgh.

Book your place here: https://scottishcare.org/event/employer-seminar-supporting-employees-through-bereavement/

8th Public Health Palliative Care International Conference: "Building Bridges Between Science and People"

Organised by PHPCI International. 22-25 October, Bern, Switzerland.

Find out more at the conference website.

SPPC Annual Conference

SPPC’s annual conference will take place on Wednesday 6^th November. We hope to see you there! Watch this space for further details.

European Grief Conference 2024

Organised by the Irish Hospice Foundation with partners Bereavement Network Europe, Danish National Center for Grief and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dublin, Ireland, 11-13 November 2024. 

More details will be added to the conference website in the coming weeks and months.

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