University awarded £1 million for Young People's Palliative Care projects

Coventry University’s Faculty of Health and Life Sciences has been awarded over £1million for projects to benefit the lives of babies, children and young people with palliative care and their families.

It is part of a £4 million research grant awarded to the West Midlands from the Department of Health.

The projects, lead by Professor Jane Coad, Professor in Children and Family Nursing and Natalie Mills, Head of Continuing Professional Development and their team (including Coventry and Warwickshire Nurse Consultant David Widdas) will address the needs of babies, children and young people receiving palliative care (and their families) in order to provide a more equitable provision of care both regionally and nationally.

Coventry University has worked closely with Acorns Hospice, Birmingham and a number of key stakeholders across the West Midlands Children’s Palliative Care Network to develop this exciting project.

A large part of the project will be to lead nationally on developing and delivering a completely innovative mode of training using e.learning for health and social care professionals.

In due course, this will enable nurses, doctors and carers to develop the knowledge, skills and competence to care for this group of babies, children, young people and their families in whatever setting they are in.

This national project will mean that from Northumbria to Cornwall health and social care professionals will be able to access a flexible e-learning accredited programme to progress their skills in palliative and complex care for babies, children, young people and families.

In addition, Professor Jane Coad, at Coventry University will also be leading a regional evaluation of the successful services awarded across the West Midlands.

Professor Coad said:

“The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences is very excited at the potential of this work, not only for the University, but also for the region and the potential impact of making a difference for this group of babies, children, young people and their families and the staff who deliver that care.”

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For further information contact Ali Bushnell, External Press and Media Relations Officer on +44 (0)24 7688 8245.

For further information relating to these projects, please contact Marie Krumins, Project Manager at mkrumins@cad.coventry.ac.uk.