Newsletter Contents

1. Breaking news

1.1 New report exposes wide-scale lack of access to essential analgesics

80 per cent of the world’s cancer sufferers have no access to pain and relief and seven per cent of all people in the world suffer cancer pain that could be relieved but isn’t due to lack of access to low cost and effective pain relieving drugs, reports a new publication launched to mark World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. Access to Pain Relief – an Essential Human Right is published by Help the Hospices with an introduction by the World Health Organization. It investigates the widespread lack of access to pain relief available to terminally ill people in many parts of the world, highlighting the fact that cost is not usually the main barrier but rather: lack of education and training, bureaucracy, legislation, fear of addiction, abuse, tolerance and/or side effects and poorly developed health systems. It looks at pain relief with reference to other advanced and terminal diseases including AIDS, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and renal disease. It also includes findings of a specially commissioned survey of medical staff in 69 hospice and palliative care services across Africa, Asia and Latin America. You can access the report at: http://www.worldday.org in the Reports section.

The report is already attracting media coverage. David Praill, Chief Executive of Help the Hospices, summarises the report in an article entitled The price of pain which may be downloaded from the website of the Bioethics Forum.
 

1.2 Launch of third edition of Palliative Care Formulary

The third edition of the Palliative Care Formulary (PCF3) will be available in the second week of October 2007 and can be ordered online at http://www.palliativebooks.com (also accessible via the http://www.palliativedrugs.com home page). It will only be sold via this website. Since the publication of PCF2 in 2002, every drug monograph has been reviewed, and most have been significantly revised and updated. The formulary is now divided into two parts: Part 1 comprises the drug monographs, and Part 2 the more general topics, including continuous subcutaneous infusions, five new chapters and fully revised compatibility charts.
 

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2. World Hospice and Palliative Care Day -October 6, 2007

2.1 Concert at Richard House Children's Hospice, London

Rosetta Life, in partnership with Help the Hospices, is holding a concert on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day at 4pm at Richard House Children's Hospice in East London. The concert will feature ten tracks from eight children's hospices and will be performed by children from four British hospices. Led by leading musicians Harvey Brough and Theo Gordon, it will feature musicians from BBC Concert Orchestra playing alongside children and their families. The concert is the culmination of a year of workshops in children's hospices that have enabled the voice of children in hospices to be heard and find an audience.

Next year the network of hospices involved will extend internationally to Canada and Australia and nationally to Grimsby and Worthing. Do come and support the concert if you can. For more information please contact Lucinda Jarrett at Rosetta Life at lucinda.jarrett@rosettalife.org
 

2.2 A message from Voices for Hospices

Warmest good wishes from the Voices for Hospices team to those who will be holding concerts, plays or poetry/prose readings to celebrate World Hospice and Palliative Care Day on 6th October.

Our website http://www.voicesforhospices.org contains a list of all those events that we have been told about. Is yours there? Tell Alex at vfhglobal@tiscali.co.uk all about it and you can be included in the next update.
 

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3. Links & opportunities - twinning, volunteer placements and jobs

3.1 Registrars in Palliative Medicine for 2008 – Sydney, Australia

Further information and application forms available from Dr Andrew Broadbent, Hope Healthcare North, P.O. Box 5084, Greenwich, NSW, Australia, 2065. Tel: +116(0)2 9903 8207 Fax: +116(0)2 9903 8265 Email: ABroadbe@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au  Please visit our website: http://www.hopehealthcarecareers.com.au

Closing date: 30 November, 2007.
 

4. Newsbites

4.1 Launch of new educational tool to improve physician–patient communications in cancer

Cancer Tales: Communicating in cancer care combines real-life patient experiences of cancer with practical guidance to improve communication. It was launched globally at the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) Congress with a performance of the play Cancer Tales, by Nell Dunn,  the inspiration for the workbook, and has been very well received by specialists in palliative care.

The need for more effective communication in the management of cancer is illustrated by recent results from the European Pain in Cancer (EPIC) survey http://www.EPICsurvey.com  

The workbook, supported by an educational grant from Mundipharma International Ltd, was developed under the auspices of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC), the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS), Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) and OpenMinds, with guidance from an editorial board comprising palliative care, pain and communications experts from Europe. Cancer Tales: Communicating in cancer care is available online at http://www.cancertales.org or order a hard copy from info@cancertales.org
 

4.2 Cicely Saunders International

Cicely Saunders International is dedicated to improving palliative care through research and education. It was established in 2002 by Dame Cicely Saunders to pursue her vision of the high-quality provision of palliative care to everyone who needs it, be it in hospice, hospital or at home.

The initial objective of Cicely Saunders International is to establish the world’s first institute of palliative care, a centre of excellence providing research, education, information and clinical care. Work on this exciting development in palliative care has already begun at King’s College London. You will find more information about it and our programmes of work in our Newsletter which is published twice a year. To subscribe to the newsletter please visit http://www.cicelysaundersfoundation.org or contact Brenda Ferns, Administrator at:  Brenda.ferns@btinternet.com
 

5. Hospice and palliative care in practice

5.1 International Distinguished Speaker Series: University of British Columbia, Division of Palliative Care

Patricia Boston, Clinical Associate Professor Director, University of British Columbia, Division of Palliative Care, writes:

The Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada were honoured with Dr MR Rajagopal’s visit from Kerala, India on May 8-10, as the first speaker in our Palliative Care International Distinguished Speaker Series. Dr Rajagopal spoke at numerous events on  complex pain and symptom management, developing hospice and palliative care in India as well as the many social issues related to resource scarce environments. We hope that Dr Rajagopal's visit will inspire and heighten support for his important pioneering work which has clearly enriched the lives of so many receiving hospice care in India.

Dr Rajagopal may be contacted at Pallium India 
http://www.palliumindia.org/ or by email at: pallium.india@gmail.com
 

News from the National, Pan-national and Regional Associations

5.2 Hungarian Hospice Foundation launches Fields of Hope campaign

A new campaign to increase public awareness of the Hungarian hospice movement launches in Hungary in October modelled on the Marie Curie Cancer Care “Fields of Hope” campaign in the UK, which was also taken up in Poland in the late ‘90s. The first part of the campaign will be the planting of daffodil bulbs, symbolising the “Fields of Hope”, in Budapest and Debrecen. The campaign will also involve working with schools to ensure that children develop more natural attitudes towards death. The main patron of the campaign is Her Excellency Erzsébet Sólyom, the wife of the president of the Republic of Hungary. More information at http://www.hospicehaz.hu - follow the link to Fields of Hope.
 

5.3 Centre de ressources national François-Xavier Bagnoud

From 12 October, The French national palliative care information service, Centre de ressources national François-Xavier Bagnoud, will be located at: Centre d’information et de documentation, CDRN FXB Centre de ressources national François-Xavier Bagnoud, 6 avenue du Professeur André Lemierre - 75020 Paris, France. Tél +33 (0)1 49 93 64 33 ; Fax : +33 (0)1 49 93 64 41. Email: cdrnfxb@croix-saint-simon.org

Visit their informative website: http://www.cdrnfxb.org and find out more about the many  resources offered.
 

5.4 UK survey of people’s priorities when facing the end of life

An online poll, commissioned by Help the Hospices to mark World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, asked over 1,000 members of the UK public what would be of most importance to them if they found out they had only six months to live. The survey shows that 18-24 year olds are more likely than any other age group to want to spend time with loved ones. People over 65 were more likely to be concerned with sorting out their financial affairs. Hospice patients who reviewed the poll results felt that although the responses were broadly similar to their own priorities, they had others which had not been mentioned. These included taking care of their health, feeling cared for and having the opportunity to talk to and socialise with other people, particularly those with an understanding of their situation. You can access more information from the Help the Hospices website.

5.5 African Palliative Care Association (APCA)

[Source: Update, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, press release, 28 September, 2007].

Over 500 attendees from all over Africa and the world attended the APCA http://www.apca.co.ug/ conference to learn how to advance palliative care for patients and families facing HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses. As part of the conference, the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa http://www.fhssa.org  unveiled its new partnership programme with APCA. This new programme is working to create more partnerships between US and African palliative care providers.

Conference proposed a palliative care and human rights initiative - to be named the "Nairobi Strategy". Look out for more information on the Nairobi Strategy in the December edition of  this newsletter.
 

5.6 Asia Pacific Hospice Network Conference

Hospice and palliative care leaders from throughout the Asia Pacific gathered in Manila, Philippines for the Asia Pacific Hospice Network Conference. Participants are committed to advancing palliative care in the world's most populous region.
 

5.7 EPCRC research on cachexia - seeking experts

A call from Professor Lukas Radbruch, President of the EAPC - Work Package Clinical Guidelines.

Experts in cancer cachexia and nutritional aspects of cancer, are invited to contribute to the work of the EU-Consortium, European Palliative Care Research Collaborative (EPCRC): http://www.epcrc.org on clinical practice guidelines for cachexia in cancer patients.

As leader of the work package on clinical practice guidelines we would like to ask you to support our work. This work package will draft guidelines, review drug treatment of cachexia and evaluate treatment decisions such as withdrawing or withholding cachexia treatment. Your input would be required to review the key questions covering the scope of the guidelines, critically comment on the guidelines draft and participate in the discussion on treatment decisions. Part of this work will be done in two Delphi consensus procedures, one in the second half of this year and the other in 2009.

You can find more information on the homepage of this project: http://www.epcrc.org The work package on clinical practice guidelines has developed a list of key questions, or check the EPCRC homepage under the menu: Project Documents/ Guidelines cachexia.

We would appreciate your feedback. Do these questions cover the scope that a clinical practice guideline on cachexia in advanced cancer has to cover?
 

5.8 Worldwide Summit of National Palliative Care Associations - September 2007, Kenya

At this third summit, over 65 participants from across the world discussed key issues for national associations. A number of key documents were launched, including a media toolkit for World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. Training occurred on fundraising, advocacy and branding issues. There were also small group activities hearing from national associations on their views on the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance workgroups - including progress with quality and standards issues, education and training, organisational development, the Budapest Commitments, advocacy and policy, World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA) structure, branding, fundraising and children’s issues. A session was also held on the definition of palliative care. National associations agreed to progress with legal establishment of the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance as a formal entity.

During the summit a joint letter to UNAIDS and WHO was agreed asking that palliative care be properly recognised as part of commitments for access to treatment and care for HIV/AIDS for all by 2010.Thanks to the combined efforts of the Advocacy Committee of the WPCA and the technical advisory committee of the Open Society Institute’s International Palliative Care Initiative, palliative care is now explicitly mentioned as part of treatment and care and costed accordingly in the UNAIDS report, Financial resources required to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. The report, released on 26 September, is available on the website of UNAIDS (http://www.unaids.org) A write up of the summit will be available from:  c.morris@helpthehospices.org.uk
 

6. Policy

6.1  Call for examples of better practice in palliative care for older people

Annna  Kolliakou, Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, King's College London, writes:

We are conducting an open call for examples of better practice in palliative care for older people for a new World Health Organization (WHO) guide. This project seeks to build on two previous guides (Palliative Care: The Solid Facts and Better Palliative Care for Older People) to provide a cross-European analysis of palliative care services and provision and brief case studies of good and promising practice,  along with evidence of their effectiveness in the context of the WHO health systems principles and framework.

If you would like more information about the project, or wish to submit an example, please visit our website or contact Anna Kolliakou at anna.kolliakou@kcl.ac.uk Tel: +44(0)20 7848 5523.

Our thanks to the following organisations for their assistance with the call for examples:
European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC), European Union Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS), European School of Surgical Oncology (ESSO), European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS), Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA), Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care (SPCP), National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC), International Union Against Cancer (UICC), International Society for Geriatric Oncology (SIOG), Marie Curie Cancer Care, Sue Ryder Care, Help the Hospices and Help the Aged.

This project is an EAPC task force. 

6.2 Leadership Transition at Pain & Policy Studies Group

The University of Wisconsin Pain & Policy Studies Group (PPSG) (http://www.painpolicy.wisc.edu) has announced that Mr David Joranson, MSSW, Director and Distinguished Scientist, has retired. Mr Joranson (joranson@wisc.edu) is remaining with the PPSG in an advisory capacity and is working on special projects.

The work of the PPSG will continue under the capable leadership of Co-Directors: Dr Aaron M. Gilson, Director of US Policy Research and Karen M. Ryan, Director of International Policy Research. Please contact Dr Gilson (amgilson@wisc.edu) or Ms Ryan (kmryan2@wisc.edu) if you have questions regarding US and international matters, respectively.

7. Funding and other opportunities

7.1 The Commonwealth Foundation - Sustainable Development Programme HIV/AIDS and Responsive Grants Programme

This year marks 25 years of a world with AIDS. 20 million people are dead, 40 million are living with HIV and AIDS and the numbers are rising by 5 million every year. Of the 40 million people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide, 25 million are from Commonwealth countries. To find out more about the Commonwealth Foundation’s Sustainable Development Programme and its focus on HIV and AIDS please visit the Foundation’s website: http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/ 

The Foundation also offers a Responsive Grants programme to enable people from developing Commonwealth countries to participate in activities such as short training courses, workshops, seminars, conferences, cultural festivals, exchanges and study visits in other Commonwealth countries. Please follow the links to the Grants section to download application forms and other relevant documents http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/ 
 

7.2 Free artwork to decorate your hospice

Improving Lives, an NGO, would like to donate colourful artwork which can be used to decorate your facility, or as a gift to patients and workers. The paintings and drawings are created by children in public schools in America and Europe and then shipped to you free (we cover all shipping and customs costs). We only ask that you send us some quotes (and photos if possible) to let us know if the artwork helps improve your lives. If you would like to participate please email the following information:

Name and postal address of organisation; website, your name, title, email address and telephone number. A short description of your organisation and activities; users; number of adults and children you help each year and the number of rooms that need artwork.

If you have any questions please email Josh Fifer, Executive Director/Founder, Improving Lives; Email: josh@improvinglives.org

Tel: +1 917 291 0974; Fax: +1 646 329 9709. http://www.improvinglives.org  (currently being re-designed)
 

7.3 International Association for the Study of Pain Awards

IASP® Award for Excellence in Pain Research and Management
Free registrations and a travel grant for applicants from low income countries (per the World Bank List) of up to USD 10,000 dollars towards the cost of attending the next World Congress on Pain (August 17-22, 2008). Nomination Deadline: extended to October 30, 2007 for the 2008 Congress.

IASP® Early Career Research Grants Program

Five grants of US$20,000 each to support a researcher who is in the early career stage of pain investigations. Application Deadline: October 15, 2007

For more information see the website of the International Association for the Study of Pain: http://www.iasp-pain.org
 

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8. Disease information

8.1  New resources on dementia from UK and USA

Progress with Dementia: Moving forward is the latest publication from the UK’s National Council for Palliative Care. Progress with Dementia has been developed for all those involved in caring for people with dementia. Its purpose is to summarise the key issues in palliative care for people with dementia, describe the development of the NCPC’s new dementia project and outline the Council’s early findings in this emerging area. Progress with Dementia is £12.00 + postage and can be ordered from NCPC at http://www.ncpc.org.uk  or by email at enquiries@ncpc.org.uk

The Alzheimer’s Association (USA) has released its third set of Dementia Care Practice Recommendations for Assisted Living Residences and Nursing Homes. The Recommendations focus on improving the end of life experience for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias by offering concrete suggestions for addressing issues unique to people with dementia at the end of life. The recommendations can be downloaded from the Publications area of the Alzheimer’s Association http://www.alz.org which also includes many other useful resources for health professionals and the public.
 

8.2 Global Cancer Control Community – a forum for professionals and volunteers working in cancer

From Isabel Mortara, Executive Director of UICC:

International Union against Cancer (UICC) invites you to join a new Global Cancer Control Community enabling you to:
• contact other community members worldwide
• access the community’s website
• receive Global News Alert - recent news in cancer research
• access information on grants, training and professional opportunities
• access daily cancer-related news
• receive a personal email address @uicc-community.org
• receive a certificate of membership of the Global Cancer Control Community

To activate your membership please visit http://www.uicc-community.org 

and click on register. For any queries please contact: membership@uicc.org

Yesterday, October 4, UICC president Dr Franco Cavalli led an online discussion about the role of UICC in global cancer control. The “Live Expert” session was hosted by the European School of Oncology, a UICC member. For more information please visit the website: http://www.cancerworld.org
 

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9. Publication highlights

9.1 Strategies for Hope - new training materials

20 books, five films and the 'Stepping Stones' training package on community-based approaches to HIV and AIDS in the developing world are amongst latest resources from Strategies for Hope http://www.stratshope.org  Most of our materials are available in several languages. 

Now in French - Paroles Positives and Agissons!
Paroles Positives: includes personal testimonies by 14 African religious leaders who are personally affected by HIV.

Agissons!: a mini-manual to help church leaders establish and manage an HIV project. Includes planning, decision-making, writing a project proposal, preparing a budget, accounting for funds, monitoring and evaluation and guidelines for conducting a training workshop. Can be adapted for use by other religious leaders and community groups.

Both these materials - and other books, videos and training manuals - can be viewed on the French language pages of the Strategies for Hope website.

All Strategies for Hope materials may be ordered from: TALC http://www.talcuk.org  P.O. Box 49, St Albans AL1 5TX, U.K. Email: info@talcuk.org Tel: +44 (0)1727 853869.

Free copies are available to organisations in sub-Saharan Africa that cannot afford to purchase these materials. Please contact the Series Editor, Strategies for Hope Trust, 93 Divinity Road, Oxford OX4 1LN, U.K. Email: sfh@stratshope.org Tel. +44 (0)1865 723078. Fax: +44 (0)1865 436069.
 

9.2 Sales from new book will benefit Hospice Africa Uganda

Sunshine and shadows – reflections of a Macmillan nurse by Clare Fitzgibbon was launched on 28 September and tells the stories of men and women and those close to them in their journey with cancer. Clare has nursed in England and Uganda, taught palliative care in Russia and since retiring from Macmillan worked for two years as a VSO volunteer with her husband in  Hospice Africa Uganda. Sunshine and shadows, ISBN 978-0-9556140-0-2 is available price £6.99 from general bookshops or from Encircling Publications at encircling@btopenworld.com Proceeds from sales of the book will be shared between Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice Africa Uganda.
 

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10. RoundUp: News from UK forum for hospice and palliative care worldwide and Hospice Information

10.1 Annual Conference of the UK forum for hospice and palliative care worldwide

This conference, on 4 October 2007, had key note speakers - Liz Gwyther and Zodwa Sithole from HPCA - on why hospices should support international palliative care and how can UK hospices support palliative care globally. Debate also occurred on moving the UK forum to become Help the Hospices' new international palliative care reference group that will advise Help the Hospices on all its international activities in the future.
 

10.2 About the UK forum for hospice and palliative care worldwide

The UK forum aims to collaborate and share experience with UK and overseas agencies involved with delivering hospice and palliative care worldwide. Membership is free and available to all individuals and organisations in the UK with links overseas in hospice and palliative care. Associate membership is available to all individuals and organisations involved in palliative care based abroad. There are presently over 200 UK and worldwide members. For further information on joining and the activities of the Forum, please contact Claire Morris - c.morris@helpthehospices.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7520 8250.
 

10.3 International grants awarded for 2007

A list of grants awarded will be available from next week at Help the Hospices' website.
 

10.4 Hospice Information Bulletin

The summer edition of our magazine has now been circulated to subscribers.  International stories include the  Pariraksha project in southern India which provides long-term home care for patients with chronic or incurable diseases, an example of how NGOs and local government can work together. From Kyrgyzstan comes Hospice in Osh, describing a team's first steps in setting up palliative care service whilst a London GP spends a working break with the palliative care team at Udaondo Hospital in Buenos Aires. From the UK, hospices and national charities contribute guidance on flu epidemic planning, a tool for assessment of patients' needs on admission, and paediatric palliative care nurses describe how they developed a transition service for teenagers moving to adult care within the community palliative care setting.

If you do not receive the Bulletin and would like a sample copy of the July edition please contact us at: info@hospiceinformation.info The March edition is also now available online.
 

10.5 About Hospice Information

Hospice Information  – the UK and international resource on hospice and palliative care - is a joint venture between Help the Hospices and St Christopher’s Hospice. Hospice Information is fully funded and legally registered by Help the Hospices. We work closely with the UK forum and the international team at Help the Hospices for which we deliver the information remit.

Our enquiry service handles over 8,000 enquiries every year, of which about one third relates to international palliative care. We’re delighted to welcome visitors by appointment at our offices at St Christopher’s Hospice or at Help the Hospices. Please visit the Hospice Information website or contact us at:  info@hospiceinformation.info
 

10.6 Hospice Information Subscription Service

Through our subscription service and circulation of WHPCO, we are in contact with palliative care workers in around 120 countries. If you'd like to feel part of the wider hospice and palliative care community please consider joining us. A warm welcome to the many new subscribers who've contacted us recently and to those we've had the pleasure to meet in person in the past few weeks, including colleagues from Australia, Bahrain, Czech Republic, Japan,  Korea  and the UK. We are currently reviewing our subscription service to make things even easier and more beneficial to you. Please contact Vicki Stewart - vicki@hospiceinformation.info for a subscription form.
 

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11. Highlights from the world of palliative care for children

11.1 Hospice Africa Uganda sets up its first children’s palliative care team

The new team is lead by Charles Byarugaba, Children’s Care Coordinator and Caroline Rose, a children’s palliative care nurse from the UK. This initiative follows the arrival of Dr Justin Amery, previously medical director of Helen House in Oxford, the first children’s hospice in the UK. Achievements so far have included setting up a play and education service for the children suffering from cancer in the Cancer Institute at Mulago Hospital, expanding and further developing day care for children on Tuesdays at Hospice, and developing stronger links with other organisations to benefit the child patients. For more information about Hospice Africa Uganda please visit http://www.hospiceafrica.or.ug
 

11.2 Palliative Care in Children – an EAPC Task Force

The New Palliative Care in Children European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) Taskforce was established in Autumn 2006 following the recognition, by the EAPC, of an international initiative involving 18 palliative care experts promoted by the Maruzza Lefebvre D’Ovidio Foundation, the Livia Benini Foundation and the No Pain for Children Association. The aim of the task force is to build on work already accomplished and to devise concrete proposals for the reform and improvement of existing palliative care practices for infants, children and adolescents, regardless of age, type of pathology, cultural, social and economic background.

To find out more about the Task Force please contact the Task Force Secretary at: international@maruzza.org Tel: + 39 06 3290609, Fax +39 06 363 06482.
 

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12. Conferences, meetings and events

Here's a small selection of forthcoming events extracted from eChoices, our online directory of education and training. For more information visit the training area of the Hospice Information website. If you are a subscriber to Hospice Information we will deliver eChoices direct to your desktop every quarter. Please contact Anne Mason if you would like to sign up, or to advertise your events free of charge - anne@hospiceinformation.info 
 

International events

12.1 October 24 – 28, 2007 – AORTIC 6th International Cancer Conference, Cape Town, South Africa

Topics to be addressed include national cancer control programmes for Africa; advocacy, research and training in cancer in Africa; and the
prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care of a range of cancers, including cervix, breast and oesophagus. Please visit the website at: http://www.aortic2007.org for online registration with a credit card or download the fax-back registration form. For more information please contact Ms Kristen Johnsen Tremeer - info@aortic2007.org
 

12.2 November 15, 2007 - Global Health and Human Rights and Process, Edinburgh, Scotland

12.3 February 5-6 2008, Kerala, India - Second International Workshop on Community Participation in Palliative Care

Topics include: current approaches to home-based care delivery; structure and management of home-based care programmes; guidelines for ensuring quality assurance for palliative care delivery through home-based care programmes. Contact: Institute of Palliative Medicine, Medical College, Calicut, 673008, Kerala, India. Email: international.workshop@gmail.com or visit the AGPN website.
 

12.4 March 19 - 22, 2008 - The 2nd International Conference in Palliative Care: Palliative Care in Different Cultures, Israel

Topics include: palliative care in the world - a view across borders; palliative care as a medical discipline - here and now; training professionals in palliative care; enhancing volunteer support; palliative care and the media; research in palliative care. Contact: Ofakim Conventions, Begin Road. 82 Tel-Aviv, 67138 Israel. Email: dorith@ofakim.co.il. Tel: +972 3 7610805/6. or visit the Symposia website. Deadline for abstracts: October 15, 2007.
 

12.7 End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium Project

The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Project is a national end-of-life education programme administered by City of Hope and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and designed to enhance palliative care in nursing. While initial efforts were focused in the USA, many ELNEC trainers provide this education to nurses and other healthcare providers throughout the world. Many trainers have provided ELNEC educational courses, while others have gone as consultants to work with educators, health administrators, and community leaders to improve care of the dying in their countries. Some are working on translating ELNEC into other languages and adapting it to increase the relevance to other cultures.
For more information about ELNEC, please go to http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ELNEC To download useful international resources follow the links to ELNEC International.
 

Regional events

12.8  Healthlink Worldwide, London - two free events
 

October 11, 2007. 12-2.30pm, Someone to talk to – orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV and AIDS

An informal discussion and networking session hosted by Healthlink Worldwide and Panos London. The Spark discussion will explore how orphans and vulnerable children are affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the role of communication in helping to tackle HIV related stigma and discrimination. There will also be a chance to learn from Healthlink Worldwide’s partners from Africa how Memory work has helped children and communities affected by HIV and AIDS.

October 16, 2007. 7-9pm. The Beloved Ones

A short, animated film about two Ugandan women living with repercussions of HIV and AIDS and how memory work helps communities affected by HIV and AIDS.

These meetings are free of charge. Please confirm attendance to amos.s@healthlink.org.uk You can view more events and resources at the website of Healthlink: http://www.healthlink.org.uk
 

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13. Webwatch

13.1 Palliative Care Network

Palliative Care Network uses internet technology to provide a platform for palliative care professionals to teach, interact and exchange ideas with fellow colleagues in places around the world where the knowledge gap is wider than the technology gap. The network is modelled on a successful pilot project where a team in India was enabled to start and run a programme with the help of a physician based in Los Angeles, USA, who provided educational sessions over the Internet. Palliative care professionals are encouraged to submit contact information through http://www.palliativecarenetwork.com  where they can be matched with colleagues who request assistance. The invitation to submit information on the website is open to all palliative care disciplines.
 

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14. Hot tips - a section where you can share ideas

Do you have an example of something that has been especially useful to you or your team – perhaps a publication, a website or a practical suggestion? Please send your ideas for inclusion to avril@hospiceinformation.info  [maximum: 150 words please].

14.1 International Health website for African medical tutors

This month’s hot tip comes from John Eyers an independent health information consultant:

A new free website in the field of international health (http://www.medicalteaching.org) has been developed as a resource to African medical tutors. Still in its infancy, we hope that it will be the focus for the sharing of websites, full-text documents, curricula and other materials for medical schools in Africa. Funding is being sought to continue developing the website at a number of medical schools in Africa, to enable more African produced resources to be included.
We are keen to receive feedback on progress so far and would welcome suggestions on resources that could be included and areas that need further development. To contribute feedback, please take some time to complete the online evaluation form on the website or contact John at: info@medicalteaching.org This project was funded by the Royal Society of Tropical Medical & Hygiene (UK), Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (UK) and the Wellcome Trust.
 

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15. Notice board

Congratulations to the following colleagues for their contribution to international palliative care and research.

15.1 Dr Liz Gwyther receives ‘Gender Acclaim’ Human Rights and Health Award from the South African Medical Association

Dr Liz Gwyther, CEO of Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA), has recently been honoured with a merit award from the South African Medical Association. The ‘Gender Acclaim Award’ celebrates her outstanding contribution to the field of human rights and health and her pioneering work in establishing palliative medicine as a dedicated component of mainstream medicine. In her acceptance speech, Dr Gwyther accepted the award on behalf of all South African hospice workers, patients and family members.
 

15.2 Hospice founder honoured by President of Romania

Graham Perolls, founder and Executive Director of UK Charity Hospices of Hope, has been given the rank of Officer in The National Order of Faithful Service by the President of Romania. This prestigious award, the second highest honour it is possible for a civilian to receive in Romania, has been granted for Graham’s “contribution to the improvement of conditions of care and treatment for patients suffering from terminal diseases and for promoting the interests of Romania in relations with the United Kingdom.” The award will be presented at the Romanian Cultural Institute in London on 18 October, followed by a celebratory concert.
 

15.3 Valuable patient-centred contribution to palliative care research

Phil Larkin, Senior Lecturer in Nursing (Palliative Care) at The National University of Ireland, Galway was recently awarded his Doctorate in Public and Social Health from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. His study entitled “Transition towards palliative care services; an exploration of its meaning for advanced cancer patients in Europe” described the experiences of 100 terminally ill patients in six European countries :The United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Netherlands and Switzerland. The findings of the study have been reported in a number of international journals and offer an interesting insight into the reality of patients’ experiences of end-of-life care.
 

15.4 AAHPM Clinical Scholars Program

The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) announces selection of the eight training sites that will host its Clinical Scholars Program beginning in 2008. The programme provides physicians one week of participation with a clinical team, under the supervision of physician faculty at the training site. The sites were chosen based on their outstanding reputation, superior service, and well regarded expertise in the field. For further information on this programme, visit the AAHPM website.
 

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