Audit Scotland NHS Scotland Governance report

Audit Scotland has published NHS in Scotland: Spotlight on Governance, a report highlighting that NHS Scotland’s governance arrangements need to be strengthened to deliver the scale of reform needed across the health service.

Read the report in full here.

Assisted Dying Bill at Westminster

Three major medical institutions have each published updated position statements on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill as the final vote on legalising “assisted dying” approaches at Westminster. The Royal College of Physicians statement can be read here. The Royal College of Psychiatrists statement can be read here and the British Geriatrics Society can be read here.

Parliamentary Questions

“To ask the Scottish Government when the Palliative Care Strategy will be implemented.”

Asked by Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour on 13 May 2025

Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 May 2025.  View the answer here: S6W-37577

“To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to palliative care in each of the last 10 financial years.”

Asked by Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour on 13 May 2025

Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 May 2025.  View the answer here: S6W-37577

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Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh: Dundas Medal applications now open

The Dundas Medal was created in commemoration of Dr Charles Robert Dundas & is awarded annually to recognise the efforts of those who have improved the provision of palliative care for patients in UK Hospitals.

This award is open to individuals or teams (nursing, pharmacy & medical) providing palliative care in UK hospitals. Please apply by 29 June.

To find out more and apply, please register here.

Updates to Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines

Two further updates to the Scottish Palliative Care Guideline have been published:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Malignant spinal cord compression

The full guidelines are available here Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines | Right Decisions. They can also be accessed as an app.

Further topics are under review and will be available for consultation in October.  If you need any further information, please contact Ailsa Stein, ailsa.stein@nhs.scot, Programme Manager, SIGN. 

Sharing current Scottish Practice

The Poster Exhibition at the SPPC Annual Conference 2024 showcased best practice and new initiatives to improve experiences of living with serious illness, dying and bereavement in Scotland and further afield.

All of the posters are available to view on the SPPC website, and each month we’ll highlight a few on our blog. This month we highlight these five posters... click on the links to view the posters:

• Experiences of Clonidine use over 18 months in the hospital in-patient unit
• Experiential learning of palliative care for 3rd year nursing students
• Fostering a Person-Centred Culture at St Columba’s Hospice Care
• Growing the Education Network to maturity using QI and coproduction to support hospice educators
• Healthcare professional knowledge and attitudes towards corneal donation

The SPPC blog is a space to share practice currently underway in Scotland. If you have practice you’d like to share, please get in touch.

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Marie Curie Research Grants Scheme Open 3^rd June – Improving palliative and end of life care (PEoLC) in Hospitals.

Marie Curie is looking to fund research that focuses on themes identified by the PEoLC James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership: Improving quality of care, and discharge, for people with palliative and end of life care needs in hospital.

Proposals are welcome from researchers with strong links to hospitals to respond to these priorities through the scope of this call.

More details on eligibility, how to apply and key dates are available on this webpage.        

Music and Grief survey

People who have experienced a close bereavement from 6 months to 2 years ago and who feel comfortable talking about their grief are invited to take part in a survey looking at how personal music use played a role in their emotional wellbeing following the bereavement.

Find out more about the survey here, and read the Participant Information Sheet here. Contact Elizabeth Fair, lead researcher, at mc22eif@leeds.ac.uk to take part.

EMPOWER Dementia Network: Small Research Project Fund Launch

The EMPOWER Dementia Network‘s Small Research Project Fund is now open to Expressions of Interest.

The purpose of the Small Research Project Fund is to:

1. Support the development and pump-priming of small, collaborative research projects that address inequalities in dementia care and research, especially for people who need greater support. By “greater support,” we mean the important moments in a person’s dementia when they go from being able to manage on their own to needing extra help and care, whether from professionals or family and friends.
2. Bring together and nurture collaborations between community partners, lived experts, and researchers to support learning and development through funded projects. 

The Expressions of Interest closing date is 11 July. Find out more here.

Exploring the contextual assumptions, interventions and outcomes of digital advance care planning systems: A theory of change approach to understand implementation and evaluation

A new paper by the OPTIMAL CARE (OPTIMising PALliative CARE through electronic coordination) project group looks at challenges of implementing digital future care planning when there are many varied perspectives on what it is for.

Read the paper in full here.

Communicating prognostic uncertainties in advanced multimorbidity: a multimethod qualitative study to co-design practice recommendations

A group led by Simon Etkind aimed to co-design clinical practice recommendations for communication of prognostic uncertainty in advanced multimorbidity, based on the lived experience and expertise of patients, carers, and healthcare professionals.

Read the study in full here.

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Join in To Absent Friends 2025

The 2025 the To Absent Friends festival will take place across Scotland from 1-7 November 2025.  The festival is about creating opportunities for people to remember, to tell stories, to celebrate and to reminisce about people they love who have died.

We welcome new events as part of the festival. If you’d like to get involved check out the information and resources here: Get involved in the TAF festival 2025

Creating Connection: A workshop on hosting remembrance events

Join us for this interactive workshop to explore some practical ways of holding space for remembrance activities. This event is designed for people who would like to organise an event as part of To Absent Friends 2025. 

Delegates will explore some potential ways of creating space for meaningful conversations and participate in three different activities: 

• Reminiscence Café
• Art Workshop
• To Absent Friends Supper

Together, participants will have opportunities to reflect on how they might bring one of these activities into their own community.  More information is available here: To Absent Friends | Creating Connection: A workshop on hosting remembrance events  

SPPC Annual Conference 2025 - Call for Posters

The Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care Annual Conference 2025 will take place on Wednesday 12 November 2025 at the John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh.

Are you involved in an interesting project or in an area of work that you would like to discuss with or show to other conference attendees? Why not present your work in the poster exhibition. See this flyer for details on the call for posters, exhibition stands or publication displays.

If you are interested in presenting a poster or bringing along your display stands, please contact Pauline Ellison for a proposal form for completion at pauline@palliativecarescotland.org.uk. Please note that the closing date for submission of applications for poster proposals or exhibitions is Monday 29 September 2025.

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New online bereavement resource

My Grief My Way is an online bereavement support package that you can work through at your own pace. It’s aimed at adults who have lost someone and who recognise that they could use a little bit of help. The website is designed to help people to learn a set of skills and practices that will support them to do the work of grieving.

Find out more here: My Grief My Way

Launch of a ‘How-to Guide’ for the development Compassionate Schools

Compassionate Schools recognise serious illness, caregiving, death, loss and grief are inherent aspects of life in schools. They develop activities aimed at changing attitudes and increasing knowledge and skills of both students and staff, so that they are better equipped to support themselves and each other during such times.

Developed by the European Learning Network on Compassionate Schools, this ‘How-to guide’ is aimed at anyone interested in, or keen to develop, Compassionate Schools. It provides advice and activities, including some helpful tips for getting started.

Find out more here.

EMPOWER Dementia Network + Website Launch

The EMPOWER Dementia Network + is proud to launch its new website. The EMPOWER Dementia Network+ is a national network committed to addressing inequalities in dementia care and research. They aim to do this using co-production to engage and include underrepresented groups in dementia research, services, and policy. Funded by Alzheimer’s Society, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the networks brings together lived experts, community partners, researchers, and health and care professionals from across primary, social dementia, and palliative care to co-develop inclusive, impactful solutions.

Body donation training sessions

The University of Glasgow can offer educational training sessions for staff, volunteers and the public to increase understanding and debunk myths around body donation. These sessions are typically 1 hour long, with a brief talk for 20-30mins and then time for questions and answers with the team. If you are interested in attending or arranging a session, please contact: Paul.Rea@glasgow.ac.uk 

A free podcast about body donation and its practicalities is available here:  How body donation workas at the University of Glasgow 

More information about body donation is available here: Donating your body to medical science

Survey exploring access to Controlled Drugs for Palliative and End-of-Life Care in UK Care Homes 

Marie Curie are conducting a short survey study investigating how care home staff access controlled drugs (CDs) such as morphine and midazolam, for palliative and end-of-life care. They are inviting UK-based care home staff, including nurses, care assistants, and managers, to take part by completing a 20-minute anonymous survey. Responses will contribute to shaping policy discussions and guiding future research aimed at improving timely access to CDs in care homes, thereby enhancing care for those in need. 

Contribute to the study by following this link: https://bit.ly/cinch25  Find out more by watching a short video outlining the study: https://youtu.be/ckCT8CzM7BA

For more information, please contact Emyr Jones, Consultant Pharmacist, Emyr.Jones3@wales.nhs.uk

Macmillan Education and Training

New e-learning modules:

• Time to explore - Compassionate people centred conversations 
• Psychological support skills to enhance cancer care e-learning 

Cancer Professionals Podcast - “With equity, everyone wins’’ 

Featuring guest Bami Adenipekun, an equity consultant with lived experience of breast cancer, this episode discusses equity and representation in cancer care and why small, intentional actions from health and social care professionals can create lasting change. All available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen online here: The Cancer Professionals Podcast | Macmillan Cancer Support

Please visit Macmillan’s education and training community to find out more about how to access the valuable education and training resources.

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NES Bereavement Webinar: Getting Bereavement Right Every Time

Organised by NHS Education for Scotland’s Bereavement team. Wednesday 11 June, 1-3pm, online. A free 2-hour webinar for health & social care staff. 

Find out more and register here.

Training course: LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in Ageing and Dementia

Organised by the University of Stirling’s Dementia Services Development Centre.  Thursday 12 June 2025. Training will take place at the Dementia Services Development Centre, Iris Murdoch Building, University of Stirling FK9 4LA.  Find out more and register here: LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in Ageing and Dementia Tickets

Being Ready evidence-based training for professionals 

Organised by GIRES. 18 and 25 June 2025, online.  This unique training was developed to help professionals address the needs of trans and gender diverse people during all stages of death, dying and bereavement.

Find out more and book a place here.

Caught between the dream and realities: considering ‘advance care planning’

Organised by Open University and Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department at UCL. Wednesday, 25 June 2025, online.

Find out more and book a place here.

Healthcare Conferences UK: Professional Development Conferences & Masterclasses

Organised by Healthcare Conferences UK. For dates and times of individual sessions, see below. Readers of this newsletter can receive a 20% discount with the code hcuk20sppc.

• Patient Safety in Hospices Wednesday 17 June 2025.  For further information and to book your place visit the conference webpage or email emily@hc-uk.org.uk.
• Supporting Staff Bereavement in the Workplace Tuesday 24^th June 2025. For further information and to book your place, visit the conference webpage or email petra@hc-uk.org.uk.
• Improving Adult Bereavement Care, Support & Services Thursday 26 June 2025. For further information and to book your place visit the conference webpage or email petra@hc-uk.org.uk.
• Reducing & Managing Pressure Ulcers at the End of Life Thursday 3rd July 2025. For further information and to book your place, visit the conference website or email aman@hc-uk.org.uk.
• Improving End of Life Care for people with Cardiovascular Disease & Heart Failure Thursday 10^th July 2025. For further information and to book your place, visit the conference webpage or email aman@hc-uk.org.uk.
• Caldicott Principles & Information Sharing in End of Life Care Friday 12^th September 2025. For further information and to book your place, visit the conference webpage or email aman@hc-uk.org.uk.
• A Practical Guide to Effective Non-Medical Prescribing in End of Life Care Thursday 25^th September 2025. For further information and to book your place, visit the conference webpage or email aman@hc-uk.org.uk.

Child Bereavement UK Conference: Cultural perspectives on supporting children and young people through grief

Organised by Child Bereavement UK. Monday 23 June, The Studio, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham, B2 5EP or online via livestream. 

Find out more and register here.

Roundtable discussion: improving palliative care in remote, rural and island communities

Organised by Hospice UK and hosted by Rhoda Grant MSP. 24th June 2025, 1pm - 2pm, in Committee Room 4 - the Clerk Maxwell Room, Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP.

To confirm your attendance, please contact Helen Malo by 17 June at h.malo@hospiceuk.org.

Big Conversations webinar: Improving palliative care for people in remote, rural and island communities

Organised by Hospice UK. 25 June, 11am - 12:30pm, online. This webinar is aimed at staff with an interest in delivering palliative care in rural communities across the UK.

Find out more and register here.

Diagnosis of Death Evening Webinar

Organised by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. July 10 2025, online.

It is important that all doctors and other clinicians who may be asked to confirm death are familiar with the updated criteria, as outlined in the recently published 2025 Academy Code, and can ensure that every death of a person under their care – of any age and in any setting - is confirmed in an accurate, standardised, timely and respectful manner

For more information contact Margaret Farquhar at m.farquhar@rcpe.ac.uk. Find out more and register at https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events/diagnosis-death

This Is Where You’ll Be

AGL and The Alchemists, 21 August 2025, Edinburgh

When Annie lost the love of her life to cancer, she found inspiration, comfort and courage in playing upbeat, funky, yet heartfelt music. So she formed a band, AGL and The Alchemists, and began to write and perform songs about love, life, loss and longing, and to explore through music, her experience of grief, survival and recovery.  Find out more here.

The Future of Bereavement Support in Scotland

Organised by the Bereavement Charter Group. 28 August, Glasgow. Find out more and register here.

NES Bereavement Education Programme - 10 year anniversary event

Organised by NHS Education for Scotland. Thursday 18 September, 1:30-3:30pm, online via MS Teams. 

Find out more information and register here.

Palliative Care: Fit for the Future? conference

Organised by Strathcarron Hospice. October 1, 2025 - October 2, 2025, John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh, EH16 5AY

Over two days, we have an outstanding line-up of speakers who will explore a wide range of topics relevant to the future of palliative care. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn, connect, and engage with professionals across the field.
We are also pleased to invite abstract submissions for both oral presentations and poster sessions. This is your chance to share your research and insights with a broad audience. Registration and abstract submissions are now open.

For more information contact Angela Harkins at angela.harkins4@nhs.scot. Find out more and book your place at
https://www.strathcarronhospice.net/Event/palliative-care-fit-for-the-future.

NES Bereavement Education Conference 2025 - Bereavement as a Kaleidoscope: An Inclusive Approach For All

Organised by NHS Education for Scotland. Tuesday 11th November, online.

Registration is not yet open but to note interest in attending, please email event@nes.scot.nhs.uk.

Save the Date: SPPC Annual Conference 2025

The next SPPC annual conference will take place on Wednesday 12 November 2025 at the John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh. Further details will be announced shortly.

Masterclass in Palliative Care: Strathcarron, Scotland

Organised by OxCERPC. 14th November 2025, 09.00-16.30, Strathcarron Hospice. Early-bird offer until 1 August 2025.

Find out more and register here.

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