About the course:

Developed at Princess Alice Hospice in 2001. This course is now offered at a range of sites both nationally and internationally – including The Hospice of St Francis, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. It is a nine week distance learning, multi-professional programme. Suitable for professionals who have direct contact with patients requiring a palliative approach and care.

Carried out at a distance from the chosen site, the entire course is delivered virtually via Zoom. It is recommended you carry out around 50 hours personal study, but this will vary depending on previous experience of palliative care.

Staff working in hospices in the UK can apply to the Wolfson Foundation (via Hospice UK) to cover part of the cost of this programme.

​The course covers:

• What is palliative care and who is it for?
• Symptom issues in palliative care
• Patients with emergency conditions
• Patients in the last 48 hours of life
• Breaking bad news to patients and families
• Bereavement and support

Candidates will receive:

• Course Handbook containing the core text material
• Access to the Princess Alice Hospice virtual learning environment – learningzone.pah.org.uk
• Allocated a facilitator who will support them through their portfolio submission. The facilitators are experienced practitioners in specialist palliative care, who will be available by email or telephone. 
• Awarded the Princess Alice Hospice European Certificate of Essential Palliative Care upon successful completion