There are a variety of palliative and end-of-life care training sessions available for staff working in Care Homes, Care at Home, Community, and Acute Services.
Please see below for details on these courses, which are delivered through the NHS Lothian Clinical Education Team, along with booking information.
There is also information below on additional sources of education from Marie Curie and NHS Education Scotland
Palliative and End-of-Life Care education for Health and Social Care Workers, Registered Nurses and Allied Health Professionals
Delivered face to face at various sites across Lothian for staff working across all sectors and including care homes and care at home settings.
Palliative & End of Life Care for Health and Social Care Workers
This full-day session provides an overview of palliative and end-of-life care, supporting health and social care workers to deliver compassionate, person-centred care across a range of environments.
The aim is to strengthen confidence, improve early recognition of need, and ensure coordinated, compassionate care.
The session focuses on:
• Understanding palliative care and care around dying
• Delivering holistic, dignified care
• Recognising when a person’s condition is changing
• Communicating effectively with patients and families
• Working confidently within the multidisciplinary team
Booking Essential
See the image above for dates
Care Home and Care at Home Staff – Please email loth.trainingandeducationcarehomes@nhs.scot
NHS Staff – Please Book through eESS
Palliative and End of life Care for Registered Nurses
This full-day session supports Registered Nurses to assess, plan and deliver holistic palliative and end-of-life care across a range of clinical environments.
The aim is to strengthen clinical judgement, improve confidence in decision-making, and support coordinated, person-centred care
The session focuses on:
• Application of palliative care principles in complex cases
• Symptom recognition and management
• Proactive care planning and clinical decision-making
• Communication with patients and families
• Multidisciplinary coordination and escalation
• Professional reflection and resilience
Booking Essential
Dates:
All sessions 9:00am – 4:00pm
04-03-2026 – Training Room 8, Comely Bank Centre
09-04-2026 – Traprain Room, East Lothian Community Hospital
11-06-2026 – Arthurs Seat Room, Post-Graduate Education Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
30-06-2026 – Training Room 11, Comely Bank Centre
15-07-2026 – Traprain Room, East Lothian Community Hospital
29-10-2026 – Training Room 11, Comely Bank Centre
26-11-2026 – Calderwood Room, Staff Development & Support Centre
Care Home and Care at Home Staff – Please email loth.trainingandeducationcarehomes@nhs.scot
NHS Staff – Please Book through eESS
Palliative and End-of-Life Symptom Management for Registered Nurses
This full-day session focuses on recognising deterioration in palliative patients and responding safely and effectively in clinical practice.
The aim is to strengthen clinical judgement, reduce avoidable crisis escalation, and support proactive, person-centred care.
The session includes:
• Early identification of changing symptoms
• Assessment and management of common palliative symptoms
• Safe and appropriate escalation
• Navigating the Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines
• Structured communication using SBAR
• Collaborative working within the multidisciplinary team
Booking Essential
Dates:
all 9:00am – 4:00pm sessions
12-03-2026 – Traprain Room, East Lothian Community Hospital
26-05-2026 – Arthurs Seat Room, Post-Graduate Education Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
10-06-2026 – Training Room 8, Comely Bank Centre
23-07-2026 – Blackford Room, Post-Graduate Education Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
27-08-2026 – Calderwood Room, Staff Development & Support Centre, St John’s Hospital
08-09-2026 – Training Room 11, Comely Bank Centre
10-11-2026 – Calderwood Room, Staff Development & Support Centre, St John’s Hospital
10-12-2026 – Traprain Room, East Lothian Community Hospital
Care Home and Care at Home Staff – Please email loth.trainingandeducationcarehomes@nhs.scot
NHS Staff – Please Book through eESS
Additional sources of palliative and end of life care training
Bespoke Training for Care Homes: NHS Lothian Clinical Education Team can also provide bespoke training if required. Please contact the team by email in the first instance to discuss specific training needs trainingandeducation.carehomes@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Marie Curie Knowledge Zone Wide range of palliative care information & resources for health and social care workers
Support Around Death (SAD) This NHS Education for Scotland website aims to support health and social care staff who are working with patients, carers and families before, at, and after death. It provides key information on the clinical, legislative, and practical issues involved.
Further information
For information on palliative care and referral processes please see the following webpages.
Palliative Care: Service and Information
Palliative Care: Referral Pathway
