New partnership to support palliative care research in the North West

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The University of Liverpool is part of a new partnership that has been launched to support and encourage palliative care research in the North West.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has funded a research and clinical partnership in palliative care, recognising that this is an area of high clinical need where more research is required.

The Palliative Care Research Partnership North West Coast (PalCaRe NWC) is led by Professor of Palliative Care Catherine Walshe from the International Observatory on End of Life Care at Lancaster University.

Professor Walshe said: “We know how important palliative care is, and that research is vital to help us to provide the best possible care. I hope this partnership will help boost research so that local people have the opportunity to take part in research that takes account of our local needs here in the North West.”

The partnership also includes the University of Liverpool, University of Chester, UCLan, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust and the Clinical Research Network North West Coast.

Professor John Ellershaw from the University of Liverpool said: "We are delighted to be part of this partnership to promote and undertake research in palliative and end of life care for the benefit of patients and their relatives."

The Palliative Care Research Partnership North West Coast (PalCaRe NWC) has three aims:

  • to work with people providing all types of palliative care in this area to understand more about what helps and hinders research locally and to address any of these barriers

  • to help develop research capacity and expertise across the local area

  • to support people applying for large-scale NIHR grants

The Partnership has already launched a survey to understand more about local barriers. The survey is aimed at anyone working in palliative care across the North West Coast including people in hospitals, community settings, nursing homes, hospices etc. as well as those involved in palliative care research.

For more information please visit the PalCaRe NWC website.