Article: Remembrance: a self-care toolkit for healthcare staff

This US article describes the development of Bereavement Rounds - also known as "Remembrance,"  a multidisciplinary approach to acknowledge and process the death of patients in an inpatient palliative care service, paying particular attention to how staff can be affected by patients and their families.  A template is included providing details of the format, factors to be considered and the roles different staff play in the weekly 30 minute meetings.

Morris, S. 2019. Remembrance: a self-care toolkit for clinicians.  Journal of Palliative Medicine.  22 (3) p 316 - 318.

Contact the library for a copy.

Article: Parental life-limiting illness: what do we tell children

This UK study aims to increase our understanding of children's experiences when a parent has a life-limiting illness.  Interviews were carried out with 7 bereaved children exploring the experience of the support they received along with interviews with 16 healthcare professionals to gain their perspective of the support offered to the children.  The findings showed the children need open, clear and age appropriate conversations with their parents.  Parents often found this difficult and looked at healthcare professionals for support and guidance, however healthcare professionals didn't always feel able to offer support. The role of healthcare professionals, training and role in this process is discussed further

Fearnley, F. & Boland, J. W. 2019. Parental life-limiting illness: what do we tell children.  Healthcare, 7 (47) online

Available to download

Article: Patients' views on care and their association with outcomes in palliative care

In palliative care, it is often the views of bereaved relatives that are used to assess the quality of care.  This short article reports on a new questionnaire - Views on Care (VOC) consisting of 4 questions used with patients to examine their views on the care they receive.   Participants were adults receiving specialist palliative care in 8 hospitals, hospice inpatient units and community settings in England.  The findings showed across all settings that palliative care was providing benefit but the questionnaire also revealed areas such as communication and trust in healthcare professionals making a difference. The authors acknowledge the study was small and follow up finding limited but consider the VOC a brief and easy to use tool in palliative care.

Pinto, C. et al. 2019. Patients' views on care and their association with outcomes in palliative care  Palliative Medicine, 33 (4) p 467 - 469.

Available to download

Article: Quality indicators for palliative care day services

This paper describes the development of the first set of quality indicators specifically for quality improvement in palliative care day services.  A panel of experts identified 30 indicators.  Additional information to that presented in this paper can be found at https://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/QualPalUK/

McCorry, N. 2019. Quality indicators for Palliative Day Services.  Palliative Medicine.  33 (2) p 197-205.

Available to download here

RCN Guidance: Catheter care

This publication is a resource and framework for any healthcare staff  required to undertake urinary catheterisation as part of their role.  The guidance can be used in many ways including: a practical guide taking the national occupational standards to a user-friendly clinical level; forming a catheter care benchmark to compare competencies and practice; and a point of reference to support academic work.

RCN, 2019.  Catheter Care: RCN Guidance for Healthcare Professionals.

Available to download

eHospice: 10 minute teaching sessions

Sonia Bedford, Deputy Ward Manager at the Prince of Wales Hospice in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, explains how 10 minute lessons are empowering their clinical staff.

Read more here

Article: What can nurses do to manage incontinence challenges in end-of-life care?

When a person approaches the end of life, common symptoms of altered bladder and bowel habits may occur.  This article discusses how this can be managed  effectively through communication, a team approach, an effective assessment process and management of urinary and facial incontinence.

Kelly, Anne-Marie. 2019. What can nurses do to manage incontinence challenges in end-of-life care?  International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 25 (4) p 160 - 164.

Contact the library for a copy.

Article: I'd recommend..... How to incorporate your recommendation into shared decision making for patients with serious illness

This article describes an expert approach to formulating a recommendation using a shared-decision framework.  It consists of 3 steps: 1) evaluate the prognosis and treatment options; 2) understand the priorities that are important to your patient given the prognosis; and 3) base your recommendation on the patient's priorities most compatible with the likely prognosis and available treatment options.

Jacobsen, J. 2018.  I'd recommend..... How to incorporate your recommendation into shared decision making for patients with serious illness.  Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 55 (4) p 1224 - 1229.

Contact the library for a copy

Article: Palliative care for patients with motor neurone disease and their bereaved carers

This study examined the end of life care for people with motor neurone disease (MND) in Northern Ireland and the role of specialist and general palliative care.  13 bereaved carers of patients who had died 3 - 24 months previously with a diagnosis of MND were recruited to the study.  The study found variations in the levels of holistic care provided, with unmanaged respiratory and psychological symptoms causing the most distress.  Many patients had shown great reluctance to engage with specialist palliative care services, although for those who did, it was felt to be of great benefit. 

McVeigh, C. 2019. Palliative care for patients with motor neurone disease and their bereaved carers. BMC Palliative Care, online,

Available to download

Article: Reiki therapy for pain, anxiety and quality

This French study reviewed the literature on the use of Reiki therapy in palliative care and in particular on pain, anxiety, depression and quality of life.  It revealed there have been very few studies carried out that could clearly identity the benefits, but preliminary results tended to show some positive effects of the therapy in end of life populations.  It discusses what Reiki therapy consists of, and the research available so far in each of these 4 areas and hopes the results will encourage palliative care teams to carry out their own research.

Billot, M. et al. 2019.  Reiki therapy for pain, anxiety and quality.  BMJ: Supportive & Palliative Care, online p 1-5.

Contact the library for a copy.

RCN Guidance: Safeguarding children and young people

All healthcare staff must have the competencies to recognise child maltreatment, opportunities to improve childhood wellbeing, and to take effective action as appropriate to their role. This intercollegiate guidance provides a clear framework which identifies the competencies required for all healthcare staff.   The framework also includes specific detail for chief executives, chairs, and board members including executives, non-executives and lay members.

RCN: Safeguarding Children and Young People: Roles and Competencies for Healthcare Staff.

Download here

eHospice: Workforce and learning development in hospices

Anita Hayes, the new Head of Learning and Workforce at Hospice UK, rounds up seven top tips to help support workforce learning in hospices.

Read more here

New Books: Team Building ~ Motivating Staff ~ Delegation

Part of the Speed Reads series, a range of very accessible and easy to read books, particularly useful for new team leaders or new in a management role:

Motivating staff - this book aims to support managers create the right conditions to get the best from their team.  32 pages.

Team Building - provides guidance to ensure that team building works well and as a result you get the best from your team. 32 pages.

Delegation - aimed at team leaders who are responsible for the performance of others.  Particularly recommended for those who find it hard to delegate.  32 pages.

Contact the library for a loan.

New Books: Presentations ~ Interviewing ~ Training Skills

A range of books known as Speed Reads, all available on loan from the library.

Presentations - this book will help you deliver presentations, speeches, and other public speaking with confidence and flair.  32 pages.

Interviewing - with this book you'll learn how to make good interviewing a useful and informative part of the recruitment process, rather than a scary and uncomfortable ordeal. 32 pagses

Training Skills  - offers practical tools and templates to run good training sessions.  32 pages.


Contact the library for a loan.