© University of Kent - Contact | Feedback | Legal | Cookies
The University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NZ, T +44 (0)1227 764000
Supportive and Palliative Care
Shelia Rama and Dr David Oliver at the presentation of the Ray Oliver Prize for the best MSc dissertation
The supportive and palliative care group has developed since 1999 following the appointment of Dr David Oliver, from the Wisdom Hospice, Rochester as an Honorary Senior Lecturer. Dr Andrew Thorns was appointed an Honorary Senior Lecturer in August 2000 when he took up his post as Consultant in Palliative Medicine at the Pilgrims Hospice in Thanet and the East Kent NHS Trust. Since then the group has been joined by a multi-professional team of honorary teaching staff.
The mission of the group is to promote specialist education, quality care and research in supportive and palliative care throughout Kent. This is achieved by using strong links with the local specialist palliative care providers. In particular Pilgrims Hospices and Wisdom Hospice(Medway Community Healthcare)have provided extensive resources in setting up the group.
The MSc/postgraduate diploma/postgraduate certificate programme in Supportive and Palliative Care, one of the first in the country commenced in September 2001. It has proven to be well evaluated and provides an excellent local resource in multi-professional education.
The group has also encouraged regular meetings of the Kent Palliative Care Forum, comprising doctors from the specialist palliative care providers throughout Kent. The forum has looked at the production of clinical guidelines for the management of symptoms, which are used across Kent. The forum also helped to facilitate the development of the palliative care network, and to help co-ordinate teaching, clinical audit and research across Kent.
Research and audit activities are planned in the future. Research projects have been supported within the group and students on the MSc programme are undertaking research projects in Kent. Two students are studying for a PhD within the group.
Staff members
| Name | Position | Telephone No |
|---|---|---|
| Dr David Oliver | Honorary Senior Lecturer & Consultant in Palliative Care Medicine, Wisdom Hospice | 01634 830456 |
| Dr Andrew Thorns | Honorary Senior Lecturer & Consultant in Palliative Care Medicine, Pilgrims Hospice Thanet | 01843 233920 |
| Declan Cawley | Research Fellow and Consultant | 01634 888929
|
| Caitie McDonagh | Programme Coordinator | 01634 888929 Email: CPPMedway@kent.ac.uk |