Whilst many people associate hospices with care of the dying; hospice care is also about teaching and research. For example, did you know:
In 1967, when Cecily Saunders founded St Christopher’s hospice in Sydenham she based it on the pillars of compassionate care, expert pain and symptom management, teaching and research?
That there are over 220 hospices in the UK supporting around 360,000 patients and families each year. Many of these hospices are contributing to or leading hospice and palliative care research.
So why bother with hospice research? Murtagh (2013) comments that research is an investment in the future because without it we cannot sustain high quality hospice care or understand which interventions or models of care are cost effective or effective. Higginson (2016) highlights the relevance of collaborations such as the Palliative and end of life Priority Setting Partnership, where more than 1400 patients, carers and professionals identified research priorities. Furthermore, Larkin et al (2016) points out that research is about making a difference in the lives of patients and families.
For example:
Princess Alice Hospice in Surrey is taking part in the The Prognosis in Palliative care Study II (PiPS2) with Professor Paddy Stone, Marie Curie palliative care research department, University College London
http://www.pah.org.uk/training/research/
LOROS in Leicester has developed new thinking in MND with their study; Exploring the experiences of families and health professionals supporting a patient with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) who requests that their ventilation be withdrawn http://www.loros.co.uk/education-training-research/research/
In addition to this activity is the intellectual expertise and investment from organizations such as Marie Curie, UKEOLRIG, Association of Palliative Medicine, Palliative Care Research Society as well as the Cecily Saunders Institute, Hull and York Medical school and many many others.
Why do we do hospice research - Because we cannot afford not to do (Payne et al 2013)
Next week: palliative and hospice research with children and young people.
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Higginson IJ.(2016) Research challenges in palliative and end of life care BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2016 Mar;6(1):2-4
Larkin, P.J., Murtagh, F., Richardson, H., Langner, M.B. and Payne, S., 2016. Collaboration: Securing a future for palliative care research.
Murtagh F (2013) Forewords in Payne S, Preston N, Turner M, Rolls L (2013) Research in palliative care: can hospices afford not to be involved? A report for the Commission into the Future of Hospice Care.
Payne S, Preston N, Turner M, Rolls L (2013) Research in palliative care: can hospices afford not to be involved? A report for the Commission into the Future of Hospice Care