The new Vulnerable Populations Lecture Series, which launches on 13 June, is being supported by funding from Health Education England.
Health, social and voluntary care workers across the North of England are being invited to attend the lectures, which aim to give them an insight into how to support people from the populations they work with.
Jude Edwards, Head of Practice Development from St Ann’s, explained:
“As experts in the provision of palliative and end of life care, hospices are perfectly placed to offer advice and support to other professionals. These lectures will allow people working in organisations that support individuals from populations that are historically less likely to access hospice care to gain an insight in how to recognise whether someone requires palliative or end of life care, and where they can then signpost them if that is the case.
“It is very exciting to be collaborating with Springhill Hospice, and we are proud to be able to continue to innovate and educate others. It is so important that hospices continue to think more broadly about how they can share their knowledge and expertise, and we are proud that with this lecture series we are doing just that.”
The lectures will cover providing palliative care to different populations, including those with mental health problems, those who are homeless, in prison, have learning disabilities, are transgender, or have dementia. There will also be lectures to look at encouraging BME populations to engage with hospice care, as well as travelling families and those with long-term conditions.
Jane Ashworth, Education Lead and Specialist Palliative Care Nurse from Springhill Hospice, said:
“Springhill Hospice is committed to providing excellent palliative and end-of-life care to all, regardless of an individual’s diagnosis and social environment. We are proud to be working alongside St Ann’s Hospice in providing education around inequalities in access to palliative care.
“Together we are striving to address any gaps in care provision, to ensure that professionals become more aware of, and respond to, any individuals’ needs at their most vulnerable time of life, as well reassuring patients that their needs and wishes are paramount.”
The lectures will also be live-streamed for those who cannot attend.
The first lecture will include a session by Dr Katherine Stewart, a North West Palliative Medicine Trainee, who will be discussing her experiences working with prisoners in palliative care settings. Dr Mary Turner from the University of Huddersfield will also be in attendance and will give an overview of the current situation in England and Wales for prisoners approaching the end of life, whilst Dr Caroline Shulman, Niamh Brophy and Dr Briony Hudson will be discussing their collaboration between Pathway, University College London and St Mungo’s. The collaboration saw them undertake the UK’s largest research project exploring challenges for homeless people and those supporting them as their health deteriorates.
For live-streaming details, or to find out more about other lectures in the series, please contact Abby Evans or call 0161 498 2092.
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