Joint initiative set to expand

St Catherine’s Hospice and the University of Central Lancashire marked the first year of working together to raise standards and improve access to high quality palliative care.

The partnership has enabled 50 paramedic students to take part in specialist End of Life Care training at St Catherine’s and provided work experience and subsequently employment for nursing students.

The hospice is considering expanding this into other areas such as medicine, pharmacy and business studies.

Georgia Oliphant,24, from Penwortham, spent three months at the hospice as a student nurse before applying for a staff nurse post as she enjoyed her training so much.

She said: “I was really interested in palliative care and was keen to learn on the job, so it was the perfect balance of working and studying.”

The partnership led to St Catherine’s and the university’s faculty of health running short courses on end of life and palliative care for practitioners to continue developing their skills.

MBA students are also working on a digital marketing project for the hospice.

UCLan deputy vice-chancellor Dr Lynne Livesey said: “The first year has been a great success. It’s allowing our students to gain vital work experience and develop their employability skills, as well as bringing new ideas and research into St Catherine’s.”

Lynn Kelly, a director at St Catherine’s, added: “It’s also about encouraging internships and volunteering; working together on research projects; and submitting joint funding bids for new initiatives, all with the aim of helping people to have quality of life to the end of life.”