Somerset End of Life Care

05/12/2025

Yesterday we wrapped our course 'Communication in End of Life Care' which we've been running since 2022.

We have loved running these teachings days (41 in total!) which centre around the care of a dying woman called Juliette and features lego, jenga and a LOT of biscuits!

The decision to switch up this course was not made lightly, but going into 2026 we're delighted to share that this day is now spilt into 3 different topics, communication skills, advance care planning and symptom management of the dying person. Learners can pick and choose the content they need, in a more flexible format around their clinical commitments.

Additionally, we are proud to say that all three courses are available for ANYONE working in Somerset with those with life-limiting conditions.

Trust employees can book through LEAP links and anyone else can book through Eventbrite, all links in the chat below 💕

03/12/2025

This we're sharing some of our most useful teaching resources.

This brilliant mini video from Child Bereavement UK simply explains 'puddle jumping', one key factor to understand in supporting small people at this challenging time.

For more local bereavement support visit our website (link in comments)

Grieving children ‘puddle jump’, moving in and out of their grief very quickly like they’re jumping in and out of puddle. This is normal and means a child is...

02/12/2025

Did you know we offer our publications in different languages?

We've just launched a Polish version of Planning Ahead and we also have Portguese, Polish and Romanian versions of What to Expect in the Last Days of Life on the Somerset EOLC website

https://somerset.eolcare.uk/content/somerset-planning-ahead-alternative-language

We can organise ANY language for ANY of our resources...just reach out at eolceducation@somersetft.nhs.uk

01/12/2025

Its Somerset Advance Statement launch day!

Building on the wonderful work of Marie Curie, today we officially launch the Somerset Advance Statement, a service available to anyone 18+ living in Somerset. We're at MPH Concourse and YDH Breeze, come and grab a goody bag! We also have cake...

The statement is designed to capture wishes and preferences related to care and once completed by an individual it is uploaded to SiDeR+ to be shared throughout our Trust and cross-organisationally.

So even if its just small details, like how many sugars you like in your tea, or what music you cannot stand, a statement can be brilliant piece of care planning to get involved with to help us look after you better.

Get involved today 👇
https://somerset.eolcare.uk/content/somerset-advance-statement

26/11/2025

Thrilled to celebrate winning the 'Living in a Digital Age Award' at the South West Personalised Care Awards! Big congratulations to Amy, Gemma and the SiDeR+ team for all their amazing work to make Treatment Escalation Plans digital across our county, allowing end of life care decisions and preferences to be shared across multiple organisations, ensuring patient choice stays at the heart of all we do 🏆👏❤️

09/10/2025

It's week and there are stands available on both acute Trust sites sharing signposting and expertise for support for anyone at this difficult time.

Our website holds a range of baby loss local contacts.

You are not alone.

02/10/2025

We're delighted to say that bookings for our Palliative Care Ambassador course for 2026 are now OPEN!
This 3 day course is a deep dive into many aspects of palliative care and a wonderful opportunity for staff passionate about great end of life care. Having the unique opportunity to become an Ambassador gives you:
- Support to teach EOL subjects in your team/department from our team
- Support to develop EOL projects to enrich the patient experience
- Opportunities to steward our public and community events
- A link role between our specialist team and yours

We have two new aspects to the course for this year...
Firstly, this year we have dates available in Yeovil District Hospital
Secondly, we are delighted to offer a small handful of spaces to our external community colleagues
Apply here for LEAP https://leap.somersetft.nhs.uk/course/view.php?id=665
Apply here for external staff
https://forms.office.com/e/uTFem9pcKp

25/09/2025

We've had a great three days teaching Trsicombe ward at Musgrove Park all about symptom management and communication skills for EOLC

All our courses are available to book through LEAP or Eventbrite, but it's always brilliant to have the opportunity to talk to entire teams!

23/09/2025

It's !

Organ donation has saved over 100,000 lives since the official launch of the organ donation register just over 30 years ago.

Learn more at https://somerset.eolcare.uk/ just follow the links under 'Advance Care Planning'

14/08/2025

We've been blown away by the response from the community to our new course so we're delighted to say that our first few initial dates are now available to book via Eventbrite...book quickly to avoid disappointment, spaces are limited!
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/introduction-to-care-of-the-dying-person-4546563

We're delighted to launch our new course today for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust nursing and health care assistant staff members

Caring for a dying person is something we only have once chance to get right...come and learn more about communication and symptom control at this important time

Our dates are bookable on LEAP from today! https://leap.somersetft.nhs.uk/course/view.php?id=2095

Work outside the Trust but interested in bringing this course to your organisation? Email us today EOLCEducation@SomersetFT.nhs.uk to discuss how we can help. As always, all our education is taught by palliative care experts and FREE to all those working with people with life limiting conditions in Somerset

12/08/2025

We're delighted to launch our new course today for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust nursing and health care assistant staff members

Caring for a dying person is something we only have once chance to get right...come and learn more about communication and symptom control at this important time

Our dates are bookable on LEAP from today! https://leap.somersetft.nhs.uk/course/view.php?id=2095

Work outside the Trust but interested in bringing this course to your organisation? Email us today EOLCEducation@SomersetFT.nhs.uk to discuss how we can help. As always, all our education is taught by palliative care experts and FREE to all those working with people with life limiting conditions in Somerset

25/07/2025

We still have spaces available for some of our FREE open-to-all education events this autumn

Treatment Escalation Planning Conversation Skills Workshop - a 2 hour online workshop with the TEP Lead for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust covering how to have this all important conversation- 9th Sept and 11th Nov

Grief and Bereavement Workshop 30th September - in collaboration with Josephine's Star, the Frome Grief Network and St Margaret's Somerset Hospice were delighted to bring this one off grief workshop to staff working across Somerset

Communication in End of Life Care - 2nd October, 4th December
Our flagship one day course covering empathetic communication skills, advance care planning, symptom management in the last days of life, spirituality in end of life care and palliative rehabilitation

Booking all via Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/somerset-eolc-education-team-42690042023