Introduction In 2015 in Cyprus a family member became unwell and needed medical assistance, which led to a palliative care nurse crossing paths with a Cypriot Hospice.

An extended invitation to come and visit the hospice, meet the staff and talk about the role of a palliative care nurse working in the UK. This resulted in a request to develop formalised education programme and to return to Cyprus to provide teaching on end-of-life issues, communication and symptom control. This has resulted in ongoing teaching collaboration.

Aims

• To offer training to the multidisciplinary team on end of life issues, communication and symptom control issues through modelling, sharing skills and knowledge

• Sharing good practice

• Offering peer support

• Sharing our experiences with staff and volunteers working at a Cypriot hospice and within our own UK hospice

• Empowering the Cypriot nurses through up to date knowledge on issues in palliative care.

Method

• Communication via skype and regular email contact

• A fact finding mission

• Delivery of tailored teaching programmes on end of life issues, communication and symptom control issues to the hospice nurses and doctors in Cyprus

• Two Cypriot nurses released to shadow colleagues working in the UK hospice. They will then cascade the knowledge, skills and experience they have gained when they return to Cyprus.

Conclusion

• Positive feedback from the doctors and nurses on the benefits of the teaching and impact on care delivery

• A rolling rota planned for the Cypriot nurses to come over and gain experience of working alongside our nurses

• Ongoing collaboration between the two hospices

• Awareness and respect for the cultural and economic differences in end-of-life care delivery

• Learning and sharing of experience for UK nurses of the challenges within other healthcare settings.