Palliative Care is an approach that improves the quality of life of residents and families facing problems associated with life-threatening illness. The aim is to prevent and relieve suffering by means of early intervention, impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs. We have nursing staff trained to degree level in palliative care in every area of our homes.

At Erskine, we believe that our residents have as much right to specialist palliative care services as anyone else. In 2005, our Specialist Practitioner Carol Young led an initiative in collaboration with Elaine Stevens, Chair of the RCN Palliative Nursing Forum to ensure that Erskine provided the highest standards of palliative care. The forum had developed an innovative practice based, open learning resource for nurses working in non-specialist palliative care settings. Nine of Erskine’s nurses completed the course alongside Carol who was trained as an RCN Facilitator for Palliative Care.

At the end of this initiative, Erskine had not only developed but implemented a Palliative Care Package and Policy and carried out a comprehensive in-house training programme.

In June 2007, at the Walton Conference Centre at The Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, the Erskine Palliative Care Group were sponsored to present a study day for health and social care professionals with an interest in palliative care. The event show cased Erskine’s Palliative Care Package and many of the attendees express an interest in using the package within their own organisations. Also that month, members of the group attended the 10th Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care in Budapest to represent the Innovative Palliative Care Open Learning Resource and their achievements within Erskine. Erskine Edinburgh has also exhibited at a national palliative care conference in Edinburgh.