Physio pioneers AHP end of life care education for community teams

A physio is leading allied health professional (AHP) education in a pilot looking at the effectiveness of training community teams in end of life and palliative care.

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Physio Lesley Sayliss (far right) and other members of the end of life care education team.

Clinical educator for AHPs Lesley Sayliss is one of four trainers on a two-year palliative/end of life care education project. Funded by the charity Macmillan Cancer Support, the project began at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust in March.

‘The purpose of the project is to increase the confidence and skills of community staff to support people at end of life and enhance patient experience of palliative care. This includes developing skills in advanced care planning and end of life care needs,’ she said.

The project prioritises training for integrated community teams, community hospitals and specialist neuro, cardiac, respiratory and diabetes community teams.

Most end of life care staff education projects focus on acute care, she said. ‘The community focus makes us a new model and we will be independently evaluated at the end of the pilot to look at the impact on staff education and patient end of life care choices.’

As part of the project, Ms Sayliss will develop a network of AHPs and nurses to champion good palliative and end of life care in the Hertfordshire area.

‘I am also looking at the role of AHPs in active rehab for palliative care patients,’ she added.

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