St Clare Hospice held its first Palliative Care Conference on 14th September at the Manor of Groves Hotel in Hertfordshire. The conference, attended by 170 delegates was the first of its organised by the local hospice charity. It covered the topics of death and dying both at home, in care homes and, in a hospice setting.
Dr Qamar Abbas, Medical Director at St Clare Hospice said, “I am passionate about education in the field of death and dying and holding a palliative care conference has been an ambition since I joined St Clare in 2000.
I am delighted we were able to welcome such a broad range healthcare and social care professionals from across the country.
The delegates heard from an excellent panel of speakers including Dr Libby Sallnow and Dr Sarah Russell who are the author and co-author of the Lancet Commission report on the Value of Death. We also welcomed Professor Julia Riley, a consultant in palliative medicine and Clinical Lead for Coordinate My Care, and Dr Eva Lew a consultant in palliative medicine from Farleigh Hospice.
They spoke about how to achieve good end of life care, dying at home and patient centred end of life care, all topics relevant to so many healthcare professionals today.”
Sarah Thompson, St Clare CEO added,
“Three of our four inspirational plenary speakers told moving stories from their personal experience of palliative care, both in care homes and in a hospice. This goes to illustrate how death and dying is a topic that affects us all at one time or another, which is especially relevant in light of the death of the Queen who was able to die at home, according to her wishes. Each of our speakers set the scene clearly that there is so much more we can all be doing to improve end of life care for everyone, no matter who they are and where they live.”
St Clare is already planning the 2023 conference, which will be held in the autumn. If you would like to find out more or register your interest, you can do so at www.stclarehospice.org.uk/conference
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Photo 1: St Clare Hospice holds first Palliative Care Conference. Left to right
Dr Qamar Abbas, St Clare Medial Director, Dr Eva Lew speaker and Sarah Thompson St Clare Hospice CEO. Photo credit John Turner
Photo 2: St Clare Hospice holds first Palliative Care Conference with Dr Eva Lew presenting on “Working together to achieve good end of life care: dying at home” Photo credit John Turner
Photo 3 St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference welcomes Professor Libby Sallnow as a plenary speaker. Left to right, Sarah Thompson, St Clare CEO, Prof Sallnow, Dr Qamar Abbas, St Clare Hospice Medical Director. Photo credit John Turner.
St Clare Hospice is a charity providing specialist palliative care for people living with terminal or life-limiting illnesses across West Essex and East Herts border.
St Clare, designated a University of Cambridge teaching hospice in 2018, has continually developed its clinical practices with an Inpatient Unit, extensive community palliative care team, a Wellbeing hub and an award winning bereavement service, which sits within the Patient and Family Support Team.
In 2004, St Clare committed to working with its partners by expanding clinical education provision with a view to improving professional knowledge and confidence in delivering palliative care in a variety of settings. This St Clare Conference is the culmination of continuing partnerships and education initiatives.
St Clare care for patients and their families, providing physical, emotional, social, psychological and spiritual support, and ensuring they have timely access to skilled, compassionate and sensitive care in a place of their choice.
Our services are free of charge to those who need our care, but cost around £5 million a year to run. With limited NHS funding we need to fundraise the majority of this each year through donations and other voluntary sources.
stclarehospice.org.uk /stclarehospice @hospicestclare @stclarehospice
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