13 November 2024

The annual conference will take place this Thursday, 14 November in the Long Gallery, Stormont and will share developments in palliative care research from across the island of Ireland, North and South. 

The event, hosted by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) is now in its 13th year and will celebrate achievements in palliative care research from across the island of Ireland, with a focus on ‘Psychological, Social and Spiritual Care in Palliative Care,’ the theme chosen for the 2024 Symposium.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the Symposium was a welcome opportunity to highlight research in the area of palliative care.

“That this annual event continues to go from strength to strength and has become a landmark event for palliative care research on the island of Ireland is testament to the esteem in which the Palliative Care Research Network is held,” Mr Nesbitt said.

“The Symposium brings together an array of experts to share the outcomes and findings from a rich vein of research.  The research and evidence they will share, and the learning to be taken from this, will enhance understanding and drive improvements in the psychological, social and spiritual aspects that are essential to delivering holistic and compassionate palliative care.”

Karen Charnley, CEO, AIIHPC said,

“We are delighted to be holding the Symposium in Belfast this year, and hearing from many of our Palliative Care Research Network members who are carrying out research across the island of Ireland. We are grateful to Minister Nesbitt for supporting palliative care and we are committed to continuing to strengthen North/South collaborations. This all island event is a key opportunity for us each year to share learnings in research and discuss ideas for future collaborations.”

A new survey*, ‘Exploring Psychological and Spiritual Care in Palliative Care’ was conducted in September 2024 by Dr Barry Quinn, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast, PCRN member and Dr Naill Galligan, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services, through the AIIHPC Special Interest Group for Psychological, Social and Spiritual Care.

The survey found that most health and social care professionals working in this field, value, are committed to, and are engaged in these core components of palliative care.

However, almost 70% of participants feel that more training in how to identify and address spiritual needs would help them and their organisations address the spiritual needs of those living with advanced disease and illness. All survey results will be shared at the event.

Prof Kevin Brazil, Chair of the PCRN said:

“Palliative care affects everyone, and the need is growing with predicted growth estimated as 31% in Northern Ireland by 2040 and 75% in Ireland by 2046. It is of critical importance for researchers to support palliative and health care providers to meet this growing demand by developing evidence to design and improve care. This event provides an important opportunity for PCRN researchers to collaborate, share and work together to maximise resources on the island of Ireland in what is recognised as an underfunded research area though supported by WHO and other organisations.”

Prof Sonja McIlfatrick, Dean of the Ulster Doctoral College and leading PCRN member highlighted,

“AIIHPC’s PCRN is an example of how working together and sharing resources on the island of Ireland can deliver vital evidence-based palliative care research that ensures excellent palliative care is available for everyone at the right time and place across the island of Ireland.”

Further speakers and presentations will include:

  • Keynote Speaker – Can exploring the social determinants of health improve care and support for people with palliative care needs? Prof Audrey Roulston, Professor of Social Work in Palliative Care, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast, PCRN member
  • Update on the National Adult Palliative Care Policy, Rory Egan, Department of Health, Ireland
  • Public and Patient Perspectives on Psychological, Social and Spiritual Care in Palliative Care Chair: Fiona Somers, Voices4Care Member and Panel: Voices4Care members

ENDS

For more information, please contact: Yvonne McCahill, Communications Manager, AIIHPC. Tel: 087-0947148.

Notes to the Editor:

*Exploring Spiritual and Psychological Care in Palliative Care: Key Findings from an All Ireland Survey

150 professionals responded across palliative and end-of-life care settings on the island of Ireland, including hospice, hospital, and community services.

All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care

All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) is a leading organisation with national and international influence promoting excellence in palliative care. AIIHPC is a collaborative of hospices, health and social care organisations, charities and universities on the island of Ireland. AIIHPC’s aim, with our twenty-seven member organisations, is to ensure excellent palliative care is available for everyone at the right time and place across the island of Ireland.

  • involving service users, carers and communities in palliative care delivery and development
  • working to integrate palliative care across the health system so people are supported as early as possible
  • supporting the development of specialist palliative care services for everyone who needs them.

Palliative Care Research Network

The Palliative Care Research Network, established in 2012 as an island of Ireland Network to improve the quality of life and death of people with life-limiting conditions through research. AIIHPC’s PCRN aims to engage with all relevant stakeholders, across the island of Ireland and internationally, to promote and advance relevant and innovative research in palliative care, maximise research impact on practice and policy and ensures integrated knowledge translation in line with AIIHPC’s work programmes. The Network includes 65 senior academic and clinical researchers from Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, Dublin City University, University College Cork, University of Galway, South East Technological University and hospice and palliative care providers. They work together with people with palliative care needs and their family/carers (through AIIHPC Voices4Care), hospices and palliative care providers, health agencies and funding organisations. AIIHPC also supports an Early Career Researcher Forum (ECRF) with over 270 members to support the next generation of researchers and leaders in palliative and health care.