BGS-MDS Fellowship: Palliative care in Parkinson’s disease

Host Centre: North Bristol NHS Trust

Clinical Lead: Dr Ed Richfield (Consultant Geriatrician sub-specialising in PD)

Area of academic interest: Palliative care in Parkinson’s disease

Fellowship Grant: £1000

Fellowship proposal: Palliative care for Parkinson’s disease is a rapidly expanding area of interest. However there remains little consensus internationally regarding the role for palliative care, the times at which palliative approaches should best apply to the lifecourse of PD, or the way in which interventions should be applied – even in the last days of life, where the role for palliation is rarely disputed.

This project seeks to address some of these issues at a UK level, using three complimentary approaches:

Stage 1

Develop an understanding of current practice amongst clinicians caring for people with PD, with regard their approach to palliative issues and timing of palliative interventions such as Advance Care Planning. This will be achieved with a short survey of BGS-MDS members and potentially affiliated groups (ABN / PDNSA), disseminated through via the membership e-mail.

Stage 2

The survey described above will identify centres around the country which offer a dedicated PD palliative care service. Clinical leads from these centres will be invited to contribute to a process explaining the manner in which people with PD currently access palliative care in the UK. This will use an established Pathways to Care methodology.

Stage 3

We propose a Delphi project, using a core expert group at its centre, consulting with the wider groups described above, to develop expert consensus guidance for palliative care in PD. This process will utilise case vignettes to ensure the guidance addresses real world clinical dilemmas. If successful this statement will be submitted to the BGS-MDS committee with a view to being ratified by the BGS-MDS.

Applications for a BGS-MDS fellowship grant are invited, with funding of £1000 to facilitate participation in the above projects. It is intended that the fellowship grant would cover foreseeable expenses such as travel and conference attendance.

Application

Applications should be made via the BGS to Joanna Gough at scientificofficer [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk by 12 May 2019. 

Applicants should submit a copy of their CV and a brief statement (no longer than 500 words) covering:

i) How this work would fit in to their career progression and current work commitments

ii) Why they are interested in developing palliative care for people with PD.