Program Overview

Practical Palliative Care for Doctors in Training University Certificate in Professional Development

Overview

Palliative care is specified as a training need in some speciality curricula and has been incorporated into the National Service Frameworks for some chronic medical conditions. If you are a doctor in specialist training, this award provides you with the knowledge and skills to care for patients with advanced and incurable medical conditions.

Course Details

Where You Study

You study through distance learning with professional/practice placements.

What You Study

You study topics relevant to palliative care such as:

• an introduction to palliative care
• communication skills and strategies for breaking bad news
• the holistic nature of palliative care
• management of pain and other symptoms
• management of the last few days of life
• practical use of syringe drivers
• palliative care in specific conditions
• ethical decision making
• bereavement

How You Learn

The award is delivered through a blending approach with Blackboard Ultra including tutorial support, there is also a five session clinical placement. You attend an induction evening in early September then a series of ten weekly topics are delivered electronically on Blackboard, these include short formative assignments.

You complete a critical reflective diary during the clinical attachment and assessment is a 3,000 word case study reflecting on the management and care of a patient to illustrate your learning in practice and use of palliative care theory.

Entry Requirements

You must be a GMC registered doctor in specialist training.

Part-time Entry

• Fee for applicants: £772.50
• Start date: October
• Level: Diploma
• Credits: 20

Service User and Carer Involvement

Service users and carers support all aspects of our students' lifecycle from recruitment to graduation.