The third International Journal of Palliative Nursing Awards sponsored by MacMillan Cancer Support were held at the Savoy Hotel, London, United Kingdom on 23 March 2007. The awards were judged by a panel of well-respected professionals and highlighted and rewarded excellence in evidence-based pallitive care. Once again, the standard of entry was exceptionally high.There were six categories this year including the lifetime achievement.

Mr Philip Joseph Larkin was the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award

Philip Larkin has nearly 20 years experience in palliative care. He has held a number of clinical and educational posts both in Ireland and the UK, working exclusively in palliative care in Ireland since 1992. His current post is as a lecturer at the University of Galway with responsibilities to link education and clinical practice in providing a joined-up management service. The role involves the overall planning and development of palliative nursing services in the West of Ireland and advising Galway Hospice Foundation on issues of clinical nursing practice.

He is responsible for a one-year postgraduate programme at Diploma Level in palliative care for registered nurses with the aim of developing the programme as an interdisciplinary course for the future.

Since 1995, Philip has been a member of the Irish Association for Palliative Care and has served as a member of the Nursing Advisory Forum and the Executive, including serving as Secretary of the organization for the last three years. He has been invited to provide an advisory role to the Department of Health and Children regarding national planning for palliative care services and currently sits on a working group to oversee a national needs assessment for paediatric palliative care.

As a member of the National Cancer Institute Northern Ireland Joint Working Group on Palliative Care, he represents the interests and views of Irish palliative care practitioners at board level.

Philip has written numerous journal articles and book chapters, and regularly presents at palliative care conferences. He has also been instrumental in raising the profile of palliative care nursing as a profession, leading from the front as the first nurse to join the Board of the European Association for Palliative Care as Vice-President.