Upcoming training courses
Our training is designed to support best practice, build confidence, and strengthen skills across key areas of end of life and clinical care. All sessions are created and delivered by our highly experienced and qualified clinical team, including Clinical Nurse Specialists and Clinical Skills Facilitators.
A 3.5 hour workshop aimed at registered nurses, looking for a refresher or introduction to the skills needed to safely insert & care for urinary catheters. Assist in the prevention of infection. The promotion of comfort & well-being in cared for individuals, predominantly those nearing the end of their lives.
This workshop will cover:
- Knowledge & understanding of the female & male urinary system anatomy & physiology
- Knowledge of different types of indwelling urinary catheters & the rationale for insertion & removal
- Demonstrate safe & effective male & female urinary catheter insertion using ANTT
- Discuss best practice for catheter care & maintenance techniques
- Recognise the risks & signs of catheter-associated complications & take appropriate action
When:
Wednesday 15th July 2025, 9:30am-1pm Click here to book
Tuesday 13th October 2026, 9:30am–1pm Click here to book
Tuesday 16th March 2027, 9:30am–1pm Click here to book
Where: St Wilfrid’s Hospice, 1 Broadwater Way, Eastbourne BN22 9PZ
Cost: £25
This half day session is for all health and social care professionals, from all clinical settings, to provide a greater understanding on all aspects of hydration for the person at the end of their life and the issues in clinically assisted hydration.
This session will allow you to:
- Gain knowledge and understanding on all aspects of hydration for the person at the end of their life
- To gain knowledge on the issues in clinical assisted hydration
- To understand and explore the ethical issues surrounding hydration at end of life
Cost: £25
When: Tuesday 8th December 2026, 9:30am to1pm Click here to book
Where: St Wilfrid’s Hospice, 1 Broadwater Way, Eastbourne BN22 9PZ
This 3.5-hour session can be used by all health and social care professionals from all clinical settings, as a refresher for the principles of diagnosing dying or to improve and gain knowledge base. The focus will be on ensuring the difference to people and their families receiving end of life care through identifying the dying phase.
Please note: This session does not focus on symptom management, as this knowledge can be accessed on alternative courses. Please see our website for courses.
This online session will cover:
- Understanding the signs of approaching death (last few days) and signs of impending death
- Awareness of reversible conditions at end of life
- Analysis and application of the barriers and issues in diagnosing dying (including recent NIHR research, April 2022)
- Understand that NICE guidance on ‘care of dying adults in the last days of life’ (2015) and current guidance
Cost: £25
When:
Friday 7th August 2026, 9:30am to 1pm Click here to book
Tuesday 9th February 2027, 9:30am to 1pm Click here to book
Where: Please see individual dates, either at St Wilfrid’s Hospice or Via Microsoft Team
A 3.5-hour interactive workshop for Registered Nurses and Paramedics
This workshop will cover:
- Describe what is meant by expected and unexpected death
- Identify the clinical signs of death
- Conduct a clinical examination in order to verify that death has occurred
- Legal requirements and current guidelines
- Care After Death and preparing the body safely and respectfully including emotional support of loved ones
- Record keeping and the role of the Coroner
Cost: £25
When:
Wednesday 1st July 2026, 9:30am to1pm Click here to book
Tuesday 5th January 2027, 9:30am to 1pm Click here to book
Where: St Wilfrid’s Hospice, 1 Broadwater Way, Eastbourne BN22 9PZ
An introduction to hospice care, palliative care, and end of life care for health care professionals and students.
Topics covered:
- Death, dying, and the philosophy of end of life care, including palliative care guidance
- National principles, standards, and priorities for end of life care
- An overview of St Wilfrid’s Hospice, including services, referrals, links with partner services, and funding
- Recognising end of life and the dying phase
- An introduction into spiritual support, sex and intimacy, and compassionate communities
- Rehabilitative Palliative Care
- Symptom management, pain assessment, just-in-case medications, ReSPECT, advance care planning, and difficult conversations
Please note that this day includes discussion of highly emotive topics, including symptom management, death, and dying. Before booking, please consider whether the content may be upsetting and what support is available to you within your workplace or learning institution, should you need it.
Where: St Wilfrid’s Hospice, 1 Broadwater Way, Eastbourne BN22 9PZ
When:
Wednesday 30th September 2026 - Click here to book
Tuesday 19th January 2027 - Click here to book
Tuesday 11th May 2027 - Click here to book
Cost: Free
A 3.5 hour course for health and care professionals from all clinical settings. Looking at the assessment and management of some of the common symptoms experienced by service users receiving palliative care and those at the end of life. This will include pain, nausea, terminal agitation, breathlessness and respiratory secretions.
The course will enable you to:
- Recognise the importance of impeccable assessment in relation to holistic care and effective symptom control
- Identify the common symptoms that may occur in the last hours or days of life
- Consider the pharmacological management of key symptoms
- Recognise that symptom control may be complex and know where to seek help and advice
Cost: £25
When:
Tuesday 15th September 2026, 9:30am to 1pm Click here to book
Wednesday 3rd March 2027, 9:30am to 1pm Click here to book
Where: St Wilfrid’s Hospice, 1 Broadwater Way, Eastbourne BN22 9PZ
A one-day virtual course suitable for generalist palliative care staff and staff working in health & care settings, where difficult conversations relating to end of life take place.
It will provide a useful background to empower attendees with the skills for conversations in palliative and end of life care, including Advance Care Planning.
This course will enable you:
• The opportunity to explore handling challenging conversations sensitively, in relation to end of life
• To understand differences in how people approach these challenging life events
• To enhance reflective practice and identify your personal development needs
• To apply techniques to help manage your own feelings and responses, to such difficult role-based situations
Please note: The day will build on Sage & Thyme and other foundation level communication courses, but you do not need to have attended one of these previously.
Cost: £45
When:
Thursday 21st January 2027, 9:30am to 4pm Click here to book
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams
A 3.5 hour training session for Registered Nurses and Registered Nurse Associates
The course will enable you to:
- Understand how the McKinley T34/ BD Bodyguard syringe pump works and the importance of safety functions
- State some of the reasons why someone may require a syringe pump
- Understand the benefits and risks of a syringe pump for the individual and those closest to them
- Professionals will know their professional responsibility and accountability when administering medication via a syringe pump
- Show how to set up a McKinley T34/ BD Bodyguard syringe pump for the first time and know how to renew it
When:
Monday 15th June 2026, 9:30am–1pm Click here to book
Wednesday 4th November 2026, 9:30am–1pm Click here to book
Where: St Wilfrid’s Hospice, 1 Broadwater Way, Eastbourne BN22 9PZ
Cost: £25
Venepuncture
On completion of this 2.5-hour practical training session, designed for Registered Nurses, participants will be able to perform venepuncture safely and in accordance with evidence-based practice, infection control standards, and local policy, ensuring patient safety, comfort, and dignity is maintained throughout.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify suitable veins for venepuncture (e.g., median cubital, cephalic, basilic)
- Explain the indications and contraindications for venepuncture
- Understand infection prevention and control (IPC) principles
- Describe the equipment required for venepuncture and its correct use
- Explain the order of draw and rationale for different blood collection tubes
- Demonstrate knowledge of patient identification and consent procedures
- Understand health and safety principles, including sharps management
- Recognise potential complications (e.g., haematoma, nerve injury, infection, syncope)
- Explain appropriate documentation and labelling requirements
- Perform a practical simulated session using differing types of equipment
Pre‑Course Requirement: An eLearning module covering the theoretical components must be completed before attending the practical session. This module will be sent directly to each delegate once their booking is confirmed.
When: Wednesday 15th July 2025, 2pm to 4.30pm Click here to book
Where: St Wilfrid’s Hospice, 1 Broadwater Way, Eastbourne BN22 9PZ
Cost: £35
Looking for training more tailored to your organisation’s specific needs?
We are pleased to offer bespoke education in palliative and end of life care, along with a range of wider health and social care topics. If you would like to explore customised training for your team, please complete our request form here and a member of our Education Team will be in touch.
Have a question?
If you have a query about one of our courses, please email education@stwhospice.org
