Somerset End of Life Care

10/03/2026

We're at the Somerset Delirium Conference today presenting stands around EOL Education, Advance Care Planning and terminal agitation (and why it ISN'T delirium...), what a fabulous day of learning!

04/03/2026

Say congratulations to cohort 6 of our Palliative Care Ambassadors 3 day programme!
Thank you for joining us and supporting excellence in EOLC in Somerset 💙

03/03/2026

We were invited onto a podcast to talk all things end of life education!

Many thanks to Megane, Veronica and the 'Library Lights' team for hosting us

Welcome to the fifth episode of the NHS Somerset Knowledge & Library Service podcast! In this episode, we’re joined by Laura James, Lead for the End of Life ...

24/02/2026

A quick round up of some of our courses coming up in the next few months!

'Introduction to Care of the Dying Person' - a course to support staff to understand the diagnosis and support of the dying process, We have some spaces for this Friday 27th, 9.30am - 12pm at South Petherton Hospital...we also have dates on the 19th March, 21st May and 16th July at various venues around Somerset

'Treatment Escalation Plan Conversation Skills', essential learning for anyone who needs to write a TEP! The next date is next running online on the 29th April 10am-12pm

'Conversation Skills for End of Life Conversations' is all about using clear, empathetic communication...our next date is next running on 30th April 9.30am - 12pm at Musgrove Park Hospital...we also have dates available on 7th May, 11th June and 17th September also at other venues around Somerset

Our next Palliative Care Ambassador 3 Day Programme starts on the 15th April at Yeovil District Hospital, a full day from 9.15am - 4pm. This is very special 3 day in depth programme and we still have ONE SPACE left for this cohort!

Come and join us, booking is via LEAP for our SFT colleague and Eventbrite for anyone else!

As always...free x

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/somerset-eolc-education-team-42690042023

24/02/2026

Handy to know!

Thankyou Cruse Bereavement Support South West

https://www.cruse.org.uk/

16/02/2026

🌻 Why plan ahead for end-of-life? 🌻

Planning ahead can help you share what matters most to you, from your wishes for care, to making a Will or planning a funeral. Having these conversations early can bring peace of mind and help loved ones feel confident they’re honouring what’s important to you.

You don’t have to do everything at once. Even small steps can make a meaningful difference.

We've got some useful information and resources to get you started: https://www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/planning-ahead/

04/02/2026

Today is World Cancer Day and our colleagues across the Trust have a number of events running to provide information and support
Pop along for a friendly chat!

26/01/2026

Fab training available for local GPs

Supporting Patients with a Palliative Care Diagnosis – A free session for GPs 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️

We’re pleased to offer a free educational session for GPs, focusing on how hospice services can support the management of patients with a palliative care diagnosis.

The session will explore the wide range of services available, including referral criteria, and provide an opportunity to discuss complex patient cases, with time for questions and shared learning.

Course dates and location (Taunton hospice):
🌻 Tuesday 17 February, 9.30am–12.30pm
🌻 Thursday 12 November, 1pm–4pm

To find out more or book your place, please visit https://bit.ly/stmargs-education

21/01/2026

We had a great time spending the day with our local community equipment stores team, Medequip, carrying out some mini teaches on empathetic communication at the end of life

Did you know that we provide free EOLC teaching for anyone working with people with life limiting conditions in Somerset? Just get in touch to learn more about our available courses

EOLCEducation@somersetft.nhs.uk

18/01/2026

Some great course coming up 👇

Our Education Team delivers a range of courses that are open to all professionals, designed to build confidence and skills in palliative and end of life care.

February courses:
• Syringe Pump Training - 3 February
• Verification of Expected Death and Care After Death - 3 February
• Communication in Palliative Care - 25 February
• Symptom Management in Palliative Care - 25 February

Delivered by experienced hospice clinicians, our courses offer practical learning, expert insight and compassionate support for those caring for patients and families at the most important times.

Find out more and book your place via our website: https://bit.ly/stmargaretscourses

13/01/2026

Says it all 🫂🗣️

When someone receives a terminal diagnosis, or begins to decline from age or illness, something devastating often happens quietly, beneath the surface: they begin to lose their autonomy. Suddenly, everyone around them is telling them what they should feel, how they should think, how to cope, how to fight, even how to die. Grief, hope, acceptance, these are deeply personal experiences, but they often get drowned out by well-meaning voices trying to make sense of it all. In the process, the person at the center of it, the one living it, is often silenced.

We must do better. We have to protect a person’s right to decide what this chapter of their life looks like, no matter how uncomfortable it makes us. Their words, their wishes, and their boundaries matter up until their very last breath. Even if their choices don’t align with what we would want, they are still theirs to make. Dying is not something we get to do for someone else. What we can do is honor them with our presence, our listening, and our unwavering respect.

This is why conversation matters, real conversation. Talk to the people you love about what’s most important to them. Ask them what they want, how they feel, and what they fear. Be the person who listens in a way that makes them feel heard. And when they tell you, don’t rush to fix it or change it, just hold it. Carry their words like something sacred. Because in the end, the greatest act of love might not be saving someone, it might be showing up exactly as they have asked you to, even when your heart wants something different.

xo
Gabby

My book "The Conversation" can guide you toward having this difficult conversation.
You can find it here: https://a.co/d/9TUHqwL