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Clinicians from Liverpool and the surrounding coastal areas are developing improved approaches to palliative care as part of a new North West research partnership.
The Palliative Care Research Partnership North West Coast (PalCaRe NWC) is working with NHS staff across the region to improve approaches to palliative care, in order to meet the needs of those who need specialist support.
PalCaRe NWC is led by professor of palliative care, Catherine Walshe, from the International Observatory on End of Life Care at Lancaster University.
Catherine Walshe
Professor Walshe, who has a background in palliative care nursing, said: “I hope this partnership will help boost research so that local people have the opportunity to take part in research that takes account of our local needs here in the North West.”
According to the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), which is funding the project, the North West coast of England has a high palliative care need and historically low recorded NIHR research activity.
Ms Walshe said: "The North West Coast area have particular palliative care needs not only because of the patterns of disease that we see here, but also because there are particular pockets of need such as in deprived coastal communities that are historically under-represented in those who take part in research."
This new partnership has three aims: to work with people who provide palliative care to understand what helps and hinders research, to develop research capacity and expertise in the local area and to support people applying for large-scale NIHR grants.
Professor John Ellershaw, consultant in palliative care at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust, one of the trusts involved, said: “We are delighted to be part of this partnership, as it not only means we can undertake more research into palliative and end of life care, but it’s also a real opportunity to improve what our patients and their loved ones experience whilst in our care.”
Alongside the Liverpool trust, PalCaRe NWC also includes Lancaster University, University of Chester, University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust and the Clinical Research Network North West Coast.
The launch of the new partnership comes during Dying Matters Awareness Week (May 2-6), which encourages communities to talk about death, dying and bereavement.
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