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Marie Curie launches resource for front line staff caring for people with a terminal illness

A free online resource will help nurses and others without expertise to provide palliative and end of life care to people with a terminal illness.
Palliative

A free online resource will help nurses and others without expertise to provide palliative and end of life care to people with a terminal illness.

Marie Curie Content

Marie Curie has launched the Palliative Care Knowledge Zone to give general healthcare staff the confidence to talk with patients and provide the best care to meet their needs.

Evidence suggests some health and social care professionals feel uncomfortable talking about the dying process because they don’t have the knowledge and confidence to do so. 

Support for health professionals

Marie Curie executive medical director Bill Noble, an expert contributor to the Marie Curie project, said many staff are unaware that there are resources to help them.

Professor Noble said: ‘We know that many professionals do not think they have received sufficient training on the care of people with a terminal illness.

‘It's vital that people with a terminal illness and those involved in their care get the support they need.

‘By sharing our expertise, we hope that more health and social care professionals feel more confident to deliver the high quality, compassionate care that everyone expects and deserves.’

The resource covers key aspects of end of life care, including:

  • Managing and alleviating symptoms.
  • Providing care for people with specific conditions.
  • Focusing on the needs of individuals and helping people during their final days.
  • Links to resources and signposts to other relevant organisations, where appropriate.

Positive feedback

Project lead and Marie Curie former clinical nurse manager Tracey Buckley said the resource has been developed with ‘busy, front line professionals in mind’.

‘We have made sure that staff can access the right information as quickly as possible to support them in their caring role,’ she said.   

‘User testing and early feedback have been overwhelmingly positive, so we are confident that health and social care professionals will find our information and support useful.’

If you are supporting someone who has questions about terminal illness or who would benefit from information and support, encourage them to call the free confidential Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309 or visit the Marie Curie help page.


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