The importance of funding palliative care education: a look to the future

This article outlines the position statement agreed by the Midlands Palliative Care Teachers' Professional Forum. Written by a member of the group, it includes suggestions from other members and was submitted for publication before the recent announcement of funds being available for palliative education for district nurses. The article highlights the challenges facing the adequate funding of specialist palliative care education and, in particular, for education departments within independent hospices. The statement recognizes the sensitive nature of subjects that ought to be included in palliative care education. Emphasis is placed on the provision of holistic multiprofessional and uniprofessional courses dedicated to enhancing the quality of palliative care. The article confirms the commitment of palliative care educationalists to this end and looks to continued commitment of adequate funding from NHS trusts and regions in supporting existing palliative care education and its ongoing development in response to clinical need.