PATCH supporting Palliative Care nursing development 

Claire (PATCH) 

I'm Claire O'Neill and I'm one of the directors with PATCH. We are a Scottish charity committed to supporting the extension of education in palliative care, as part of our overall mission. We were so pleased to talk to nurses who have received funding from PATCH and hear about their experiences. 

Grace

I'm currently working as a palliative care clinical specialist within the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. Prior to that I worked in intensive care as a staff nurse and I also worked for Marie Curie. 

Jenni

I'm also a clinical nurse specialist in palliative care, and I'm based at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. I’ve been in this role for five years, and prior to that I worked in A&E and also an orthopaedic ward. 

Olivia

At the moment I'm on secondment as an Hepatopancreatobiliary HPN Clinical Nurse Specialist in Edinburgh. Prior to that I was a staff nurse on the general surgery ward. I was really interested in palliative care and did some research and during COVID especially I felt like we could do more. That encouraged me to look into palliative care and identify the modules that I wanted to study. 

How did you first hear about Patch? 

Jenni

I first heard about PATCH when I was working in ICU and exploring how to get into the specialty of palliative care. I found a course at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and I was really interested in taking this forward. St Columbus Hospice who work with the University for this course mentioned about PATCH and I applied for funding. 

I received funding to support all the fees for my postgraduate study, and I’ve now completed my postgraduate diploma. 

Olivia

I heard about PATCH through the education facilitator Carol Ann Smith from Edinburgh. She was originally funded by PATCH and recommended I follow up with you. 

Grace

I was undertaking my course at Queen Margaret University and self-funded. I was then looking to complete my Masters and Jenny suggested that I contact PATCH for potential support with funding, which I did. 

The funding has enabled me to progress to undertake a Masters in Palliative Care. I also was able to discuss the course and find out what was right for me and which options to go with. Everyone at PATCH has been so supportive and so they funded me, supported me. 

How was the PATCH funding application process? 

Grace

It was easy enough and the team was very supportive. The contact was great, keeping me informed how my application was progressing. I completed a short interview to showcase what I was doing, where my passions lay and what I was hoping to do within palliative care. It was a great experience and I have kept in touch as I have completed my course. 

Jenni

It was a lovely experience, I completed the application from the website and then met with two directors. They wanted to know more about me and what I was looking to do. I was made to feel very comfortable and enjoyed meeting them. 

They have kept in touch and kindly check in on me to see how I am getting on. 

Olivia

They helped me by talking about what they could offer and helped to support some of my fee funding. The application was really straightforward and the support throughout was great. 

What difference do you think that funding has made to you in your role? 

Jenni

Initially it gave me the opportunity to get into a postgraduate study in the speciality of palliative care that I had always wanted to get into. Since them my role has developed as a nurse specialist, and I've been able to do my clinical assessment module and become a nurse prescriber. This has had a huge impact for me as a practitioner. But ultimately I think the impact for the patients has been huge and they can benefit from our improved knowledge on the ward, early access to medications and improving symptom control. 

Grace

Without PATCH I would not have been able to start my Masters. The course has helped me learn so much and develop into the Clinical Nurse Specialist role. It's definitely helped me put what I've learned into practise as well. 

I’m better able to support my patients in so many ways and it’s been a huge help to me and then and I will always be grateful. 

Olivia

My skills and knowledge are expanding and this is helping patients, particularly around medicines. I feel like my communication, confidence and motivation to improve health care has greatly improved through this course and PATCH has facilitated that. 

What are the challenges in delivering palliative and end of life care in hospitals just now?

Jenni

I think staffing levels on the ward is really impacting on all patients, but on palliative care wards we are relying a lot of doctors and specialist nurses providing palliative care. There are just not enough staff to do that regularly. Administering medicines is also a challenge as we have to do lots of checks and changes of syringe drivers and that requires more people and takes a lot of time. 

Grace

I think when we're having these sort of conversations with people which are often very personal and very intimate conversations about their wishes. We really want to put their wishes into action, which usually means being in hospice or at home. That can be a real challenge due to staffing, beds (in hospices) and symptom control. We really do want to get the care right but there are challenges. 

Olivia

We want to be able to pass on our education and experience, and stay away from institutionalised routine, but that can be difficult. We would love more protected time for nurses to share and develop and that is really hard at the moment, but we are trying our very best. 

How do you think that PATCH can continue to support patients, families and staff?

Olivia

I think continuing to do what you do, but more people need to be made aware of PATCH. I have told a lot of my colleagues and some have heard of you but not everyone. You have been able to support me with my studies and I know that you support lots of other people, but it is not just the funding; I feel like you've supported me by having conversations about work and palliative care and what your service is able to provide. 

Grace

I completely agree with what Olivia said. I think that's a really good point. You have been able to support healthcare professionals to complete courses and progress their careers. I think that's just such an invaluable thing. It is a wonderful, wonderful charity that we're very lucky to have. 

Jenni

Keep doing what you're doing, and we will share with people what you do and how you can potentially support them. The charity is excellent and really making a difference to us, and our patients and their families. 

Claire

It’s been a delight to speak to all three of you and we wish you well with any future studies and with your careers. Thank you.