Observatory News

Observatory staff take Dying Matters onto the campus

As part of Dying Matters Awareness Week, (14-20 May 2012), staff at the Observatory took to the campus to encourage students and staff of the University to be more open about dying and to think about writing a will, becoming an organ donor or to look out for those who have been recently bereaved.

Janet Rigby, a staff member and student at the Observatory, who organised the event at Lancaster, said "This event was a good opportunity to engage with students and staff, and to promote wider discussion of end of life issues".

You can view more information about Dying Matters Awareness Week by clicking here.

Updated: 15 May 2012

The Observatory endorses Melbourne Australia's Centre for Palliative Care publication

Professor Sheila Payne, Director of the International Observatory on End of Life Care, was thrilled to endorse the Centre for Palliative Care, Melbourne, clinical guidelines, "Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Psychosocial and Bereavement Support of Family Caregivers of Palliative Care Patients", published in 2011.

Developed for multidisciplinary health care professionals and clinical services commonly involved in caring for adult patients receiving palliative care in a variety of care sites throughout Australia, the guidelines may also prove valuable for the international palliative care community and for generalist health care providers who may occasionally care for palliative care patients and is available for download. Click this link to obtain a copy.

Updated: 25 April 2012

Professor Sheila Payne presents a plenary talk at the Asian Oncology Summit, Singapore

Professor Sheila Payne, Director of the International Observatory on End of Life Care, in the Division of Health Research, presented an invited plenary talk on comparisons between international models of palliative and end of life care in Asia and globally, at the Asian Oncology Summit in Singapore on 15th April. The Summit is the fourth such event organised by the prestigious journal Lancet Oncology. She also organised a workshop on development of palliative care in Asia with leading professionals from Singapore which will form the basis for a framework for development of palliative care in Asia to be published in Lancet Oncology. During her visit, Professor Payne also delivered a seminar on non-cancer palliative care to health professionals at Ang Mo Kio-Thye Hua Kwan Hospital.

Sheila is photographed above with colleagues at the Ang Mo Kio-Thye Hua Kwan Hospital. The Director of Nursing, Edward Poon, is on the left of the photo.

Updated: 06 March 2012

IOELC members attend ATOME meeting

Observatory team members meet with other EU project members to discuss new and ongoing developments of the Access to Opioid Medications in Europe (ATOME) EU-funded project.

To read more about this story, visit the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) Blog here.

Updated: 06 March 2012

New appointment for Observatory within a clinical setting

Janet Rigby has been appointed as a Research Associate in the International Observatory on End of Life Care, in the Division of Health Research, to a part time post that has been funded by the Cumbria and Lancashire Comprehensive Local Research Network (CLRN). Working within Lancaster University and in clinical settings, Janet will be assisting palliative care researchers with recruitment and data collection. Janet has many years of experience as a palliative care nurse, and is undertaking a part time PhD on the physical environment of hospice buildings, under the supervision of Professors Sheila Payne and Christine Milligan.

Updated: 28 February 2012

Chair appointment in Kazakhstan

Dr. Thomas Lynch, a Research Associate with the International Observatory on End of Life Care (IOELC) in the Division of Health Research, FHM, has been appointed an Honorary/Visiting Professor of Palliative Care at the Kazakhstan School of Public Health in February 2012. Dr. Lynch has been working in Kazakhstan since 2009 on an Open Society Foundation project (in collaboration with Soros Foundation Kazakhstan) to develop palliative care standards in the country. Dr. Lynch will provide support to staff and students in the development of hospice and palliative care research proposals and engaging and continue to foster developing palliative care standards in Kazakhstan.

Updated: 23 February 2012

New book published

"Palliative and end of life care for children and young people: home, hospice, hospital" is a new title, authored by the Observatory's Dr Anne Grinyer.

This topical and timely text provides valuable insights into the choices and experiences of palliative and end of life care for young people with cancer and other life limiting illnesses. With a focus on palliative care provision across a range of different clinical settings, this comprehensive new resource explores care in the home, the hospice and hospital. It looks at how and where families and young people can access palliative care, and what support is offered to attain their preferred place of death. Bereavement support for families is discussed, as well as a discussion of multi-disciplinary work, interagency co-operation and resource issues.

People interested in obtaining this book can do so through most good book sellers, including Amazon.
The ISBN is: 978-0470656143

Updated: 20 February 2012

IOELC Supports the Morphine Manifesto

The Morphine Manifesto - A call for affordable access to immediate release oral morphine

In conjunction with World Cancer Day 2012 (4 February 2012), Pallium India, the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), and the Pain & Policy Studies Group / WHO Collaborating Center at the University of Wisconsin, have released a Morphine Manifesto.

Signed by leading organizations and foundations from around the world, including cancer, pain management, and hospice & palliative care organizations, this Manifesto calls for an end to the unethical practice of promoting access to expensive opioid analgesics without also making available low cost immediate release oral morphine.

To read more information about the Morphine Manifesto, click here.

Updated: 28 January 2012