"You matter because you are. You matter until the very last moment of your life. And we will do all we can.
Not only to help you die peacefully. But to live until you die." Dame Cicely Saunders - Founder of the Modern Day Hospice Movement
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Education

Palliative care is an increasingly relevant topic in today's world and particularly South Africa. Increasingly, nurses, social workers and doctors are being trained in the field not only to facilitate easeful death, but also to help patients with life threatening illnesses to holistically experience the best quality of life possible with whatever life they have remaining. Even patients with AIDS who are on anti-retroviral drugs need good palliative care, as they still experience physical problems like pain, and have major psycho-social and emotional issues that can be addressed.

These are some of the courses we offer:

  • The Short course in Palliative Nursing Care (SCPN) is a day-release certificate course (every Thursday) over 8 months. The course incorporates 4 modules, viz. Palliative care principles and ethics, Pain and Symptom management, Communication Skills and Psycho-social, spiritual and cultural aspects. It is very relevant for professional and staff nurses involved with counselling and support of HIV/AIDS and cancer patients at clinic level as well as hospital, hospice and home care. The fee for this course is R6740, but one can apply for a grant from HPCA (Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa)

  • Introductory Course in Palliative Care. This is a 5-day course for nurses at different levels, or for the interdisciplinary team, viz. professional nurses, doctors, social workers, physiotherapists etc. It covers the same topics as the SCPN, but in a nutshell. It may be feasible to run the course at your venue if there enough people interested. The dates, times and fee would be negotiable.

  • We also run an accredited 3-month level 1 Home based care course to community/ home based care workers, which includes a first aid module. This is held at our centre at Lentegeur ward and practical hours are included at various centres, which we arrange. The fee is R1500 per student.

  • Carers who are trained already in Home Based Care but where palliative care was not incorporated can also do an Introductory course in PC for ancillary workers. This could also be applied to Enrolled Nursing Auxiliary nurses.

  • Basic Hospice Course for Volunteers: this is a 12-session course for people who are interested in giving their time and skills in support of the work we do. Some people opt to do it merely for their own self-growth. There are 3 courses per year. Please contact Dawn (021 797-5335) for more details.

  • Leadership Development programme (LDP): We are hosting this innovative HPCA/UKZN modular course at our Lentegeur site for people who find themselves in managerial positions for which they may have had no formal training. It consists of 6 x 3-day modules over 18 months, starting in May. Applications due 7 March. Please contact us for details. Staff from HPCA affiliated hospices and partner organisations can apply for a grant.

  • Psycho-social palliative care course: This is a 5 day course, held at our Lentegeur site,aimed at social workers and professional counsellors working in the field. Dates 16-20 May.

  • Bereavement support course: This course consists of 10 half day sessions aimed at health professionals, carers and volunteers who wish to learn skills in supporting bereaved people. Provisional dates: end May/June - to be confirmed.

Workshops:

We also offer a variety of half day workshops which include spiritual issues in palliative care, how to break bad news, pain management, the use of the syringe driver and TB within the context of Palliative Care.

Margot van der Wielen, Education and Training Manager, Centre for Palliative Learning, Tel. 021 797-5335 margotv@stlukes.co.za