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EAPC Taskforce “EPSO”
European Palliative Stage Opportunity
Members: Tine de Vlieger, (Chair, B), Phil Larkin ( IRL), Corry van Tol ( NL), Marilene Filbet ( Fr), Avril Jackson ( UK) and Francoise Porchet ( CH).
The group was originally set up in 2004, arising out of the EAPC Nursing Education recommendations and previous work undertaken by the NTPN Dutch Palliative Care Society). Avril Jackson was invited to join this group in 2006.
Meetings: Project meeting in tandem with Venezia congress in May 2006. Nick Pahl represented Avril on that occasion. Francoise was not in attendance.
A further meeting was held in Brussels at the Flemish Palliative Care Federation Headquarters in September of this year.
A third meeting is proposed for November 21st 2006 at the same venue.
Developments:
The goal, aims and objectives for the project are agreed. These include:
1. The identification of host centres across the EU willing and capable to offer a clinical placement to health professionals wishing to learn more about palliative care.
2. The preparation of criteria for both host centre and applicant to march respective educational needs with clinical practice.
3. To provide a tool for the evaluation of a clinical placement and its impact on practice.
4. The working group will create a set of web-based materials and instructions which may be downloaded through a suitable host site which will include contracts between applicant and host centre, access, practice and planning agreements, costings and evaluation tools.
5. National palliative care organizations will be invited to recommend centres based on current best practice. This information will be available on the web for prospective applicants to review and make decisions about their choice.
Budget: The proposed budget for this Task Force is €4500.00 approximately. This relates to travel costs for 3 meetings. All other correspondence and work is undertaken through e-mail. However, the cost is dependent on agreement that the EAPC website will host the STAGE initiative documents and act as a conduit for its delivery. It is acknowledged that:
(a) the EAPC cannot take any responsibility for the costs or standards of palliative care offered by respective centres, although it is hoped that the support of national associations in identifying suitable places will be helpful in this.
(b) Much of the information regarding the UK and Ireland is already available through the St. Christopher’s/Help the Hospices initiative and will be utilised.
(c) Additional funding through the Dutch Society contacts may be possible when a feasible set of documents is prepared and put forward as an EU project.
Time Frame: Roll-out for mid 2007.
• Phil Larkin is preparing a final draft set of documents for the next meeting
( 21st November).
• An Exemplar of a Host Centre profile will be agreed
• An example of a contract (between host centre and applicant) will be agreed.
• Plan for contacting national associations (through EAPC database) will be agreed.
• Plan for evaluation agreed.
Philip J Larkin
Taskforce Member
EAPC Vice-President.
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