Community of Practice for GPs

Join our virtual community of practice for GP trainees in their final year (ST3) and GPs in their first five years post completion of training. This group has a focus on palliative and end of life care, providing opportunities for development of knowledge, including managing symptoms and challenging conversations. This group will give participants a forum to network with other professionals who have an interest in palliative care. We encourage participants to bring their own experiences and questions to each session. The community of practice will be a safe space to share learning.

We’ve been able to establish the community, thanks to the support of Dr Tyrrell Evans and his daughter Isabel. In March 2020 retired nurse, Siân Evans, Tyrrell’s wife and Isabel’s mother, died aged 69 after many months of care and support from St Christopher’s. Read their story here.

Grateful for the exceptional care the whole family received, Tyrrell and Isabel decided they wanted to create a legacy for Siân. They set up a fund to support GP and nursing education and training in palliative and end of life care.

• Sessions
• Topics
• Who is it for
• Tutors
• Outline

Sessions

The first session (online): Thursday 7th December 12pm-2pm

11th January 2024, 8th February, 14th March, 11th April, 9th May, 13th June, 11th July, 12th September, 10th October, 14th November – all at 12pm to 2pm

Over the course of these monthly sessions, members of the community can expect to achieve:

• A space to discuss issues and questions in relation to palliative and end of life care
• Greater confidence in prescribing for palliative care patients
• Support in relation to ethical dilemmas that may arise looking after this patient group
• Greater resilience and a shared sense of pastoral support

What will I learn?

Topic covered will be:

• Advance care planning
• Pain management
• Prescribing injectable medicines
• Ethical dilemmas

Who is it for?

• GP trainees in their final year (ST3) and GPs in the first five years after completion of training.
• Participants must be working in Lambeth, Southwark, Croydon, Bromley or Lewisham.

Dr Emma Hall

Emma was appointed as a consultant in palliative medicine at St Christopher’s in 2003. Her current clinical practice is based in the community team. Emma is an experienced educational and clinical supervisor. Her special interests are diabetes at the end of life, medicines management (she chairs the medicines committee) and working with care homes and GPs.

Read full profile Dr Emma Hall

Dr George Pavey

George is an experienced salaried General Practitioner with a special interest in palliative and end of life care. He currently works two days a week with St Christopher’s Sydenham Community team. He also works with Lewisham Care Partnership, a large GP practice in South East London. During his time at St Christopher’s, George has worked on improving our website portal for GPs and on written communication to GPs. He has also supported a number of GPs in training during their attachment at St Christopher’s.

Read full profile Dr George Pavey

What will the course look like?

An online community of practice offering opportunities for peer support and shared learning, with a focus on palliative and end of life care.

This group will be led by its participants. Group members will be encouraged to bring their own cases and questions for discussion.

The sessions will be facilitated by Dr Emma Hall, Consultant in Palliative Medicine here at St Christopher’s and Dr George Pavey, an experienced GP with a special interest in end of life care.