Mersey Care offer a 4-day Palliative and End of Life Care Training. The programme is primarily aimed at District Nurses however all clinical staff are welcome to attend and you are not required to attend all 4 sessions.
4 day Palliative Care & EOL Training - 2026
Day 1:
The first day of the palliative and end-of-life care program will explore the differences between palliative and end-of-life care. Discussing how national, regional, and local guidelines can support the care we give to patients and those important to them. An introduction to Communication Skills will identify facilitating behaviours that promote effective communication and blocking behaviours that hinder it. Techniques for breaking bad news and handling difficult conversations will be explored and practiced.
Learning Outcomes:
- Explain principles of good communication
- Describe facilitating and blocking behaviours
- Discuss steps involved with
1. Breaking bad news
2. Handling difficult questions
Booking link: Learning and Development Prospectus - Course
Day 2:
The second day aims to discuss the benefits of advance care planning with patients and those important to them. Exploring how to complete, document and share advance care planning decisions within the MDT. Introduction to the teams within the hospice who can support with non-pharmacological methods of symptom management and psychological support. Increase knowledge of signs and symptoms of palliative care emergencies and development of management plans.
Learning Outcomes:
- Advance care planning
1. Discuss informal and formal Advance Care Planning
2. Recognise Advance Care Planning Documentation
3. Recognise when Best Interest Decisions are required and how advance care planning can contribute to this - Palliative Care Emergencies
1. Describe symptoms of common palliative care emergencies
2. Discuss what investigations and actions are required when suspecting a palliative care emergency
3. Analyse the implications of treating vs not treating
Booking link: Learning and Development Prospectus - Course
Day 3:
The aims of this day will be to increase knowledge and skills of assessing and identifying different types of cancer pain. Including the use of tools available to support pain assessment. Management of cancer pain utilising opiates and adjuvant medications will be explored, including conversion of oral medications to a subcutaneous syringe driver. Common antiemetics used to manage nausea and vomiting in palliative care will be discussed, with a focus on how to assess for the different causes of nausea and vomiting. Signs and symptoms of malignant bowel obstruction and constipation will be explored, identifying potential management plans.
Learning Outcomes:
- Pain assessment
1. To describe different types of cancer pain
2. To illustrate what questions to ask when making a physical pain assessment
3. To analyse how to make the assessment holistic. - Managing pain
1. Recognise the different opioids used to manage cancer pain
2. Discuss what side effects patients taking opioids may experience
3. Illustrate how you would commence and titrate morphine
4. Evaluate indications for adjuvants - Nausea and vomiting
1. List the causes of nausea and vomiting
2. Discuss the principles of choosing an antiemetic
3. Illustrate the practicalities of managing nausea and vomiting - Malignant bowel obstruction & constipation
1. Describe common symptoms of malignant bowel obstruction and constipation
2. Discuss how to assess the patient with a malignant bowel obstruction or constipation
3. Explain principles of symptom management
Booking link: Learning and Development Prospectus - Course
Day 4:
This day will equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to address common physical and psychological symptoms experienced by patients approaching the end of their life. Symptoms include pain, agitation, delirium, nausea, and respiratory secretions. Areas discussed will include how to recognise when patients are deteriorating, converting oral medications to syringe drivers, and common medications/doses used. The role of the specialist palliative care team in the community will be explored, together with how to ensure referrals are appropriate. The importance of Spiritual Care and Bereavement support will be explained. Staff caring for palliative and end-of-life patients face significant emotional challenges within their role. Therefore, we will address how to care for ourselves and each other, exploring how to manage our own stress levels and discover strategies to preserve our own well-being.
Learning Outcomes:
- Recognise the clinical signs of a deteriorating patient
- Discuss why just-in-case medications are required
- Demonstrate the benefits of medications in managing symptoms of patients approaching the end of life.
- Interpret the time syringe drivers require commencing, considering oral medications
- Discuss when it is appropriate to involve specialist palliative care teams?
- Define grief, bereavement and mourning
- Explore risk factors for complicated grief
- Discuss support networks available in local area
Booking link: Learning and Development Prospectus - Course
If you require any additional information, please contact:
PalliativecareACPs
clare
helen
Additional Resources:
North-West-Coast-Palliative-Care-Clinical-Practice-Summary-3rd-Edition-2025.pdf
www.pallaborative.org.uk