A transformative week in Kerala has given Paramedic Caroline Phillips fresh inspiration and global connections to enhance palliative care at home.
With 15 years’ experience as a Paramedic with London Ambulance Service and four years as a Clinical Paramedic Specialist at St Christopher’s, Caroline Phillips has been fortunate to experience a lot in her career. But attending the Masterclass in Kerala was an entirely eye-opening experience.
Caroline Phillips in Kerala
Kerala masterclass provides Paramedic Caroline with a world of inspiration
After seven packed days at the event, the second time it’s been hosted by the Institute for Palliative Medicine (IPM) in Kerala, in partnership with St Christopher’s and University College, London, Caroline, a Clinical Paramedic Specialist based at the Sydenham site, was astounded to see the incredible work that is taking place to improve palliative care across the globe
“When I got on the plane home, I felt slightly shell-shocked. I was so humbled to hear so many incredible stories of people doing amazing things for their communities,” Caroline says.
From the moment she’d arrived, Caroline says she was blown away by back-to-back informative and inspiring sessions at the event that attracted 70 healthcare professionals from more than 20 countries, all members of the Global Fellowship in Palliative Care.
Marie Cooper (Senior Nursing Advisor), Caroline Phillips (Clinical Paramedic Specialist, Heather Richardson (Director of Academic Learning and Action), Dr Shafika Banoo.
“It was highly immersive, starting with a session at 7.30am and would carry on right through the day. Lectures were delivered in a way which incorporated the sharing of knowledge from participants, who, are doing extraordinary, innovative projects in areas of the world with some real challenges.”
A doctor from Sudan who’d had to up sticks and move their clinic 600 miles because of the civil war and a social worker employed by IPM who, inspired by his own experience of loss, has embarked on a programme to upskill communities to support people who’ve been bereaved, were just two of the highlights for Caroline, whose attendance was funded by the Nightingale Fellowship.
The two quality improvement workshops Caroline delivered were designed to provide participants with the evidence to demonstrate their projects’ effectiveness.
“A number of people there were already doing lots of quality improvement and service development, so for me it was about bringing a methodology to underpin those changes and provide them with robust evidence to show the difference they’re making to commissioners.”
Three months after returning to work at St Christopher’s, Caroline says she can feel the difference the masterclass has made to her work.
“It’s a slow simmer, I’d say,” she reflects. “Something I’ve really noticed is that when I’m trying to introduce a change at work and wonder why things are taking time to be implemented, I think about the people I met in Kerala and reflect on how, if they can make change happen where they are, then we can do it here.”
In terms of a lasting, long-term legacy of the experience, Caroline draws on the words of a St Christopher’s colleague, Marie Cooper.
“When I first arrived in Kerala, Marie said to me that I’d make friends and connections that will stay with me for life. And I think that’ll be true. Palliative care professionals are special people. I know I could reach out to any of them for help and equally I would jump to help any of them.”
A WhatsApp group for delegates from the masterclass is an ongoing source of inspiration and learning for Caroline.
“It’s really exciting when people share their accomplishments, and you get to read about the improvements they are making to palliative care where they work.”
We want to give a big thank you to our various funders who supported this programme. If you are interested to know more, please email us – education@stchristophers.org.uk.
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