Skip to content

Education and Training

We offer world-class palliative and end of life training and education and carry out research to improve patient care.

The Academic Unit of Palliative Care

The Academic Unit of Palliative Care (AUPC) is a partnership between St Gemma’s Hospice and the University of Leeds.

St Gemma’s is the world’s first University Teaching Hospice. We work to improve care of those approaching the end of life through integrated research, teaching and clinical practice.

Palliative Care Training

We offer a range of a palliative and end of life training and education programmes for healthcare professionals, including free and funded places.

What we do:

Evidence-Based Practice
Palliative Care Research
Clinical Placements

Read our latest report

The St Gemma’s Hospice Academic Unit of Palliative Care produce an annual report

What is a University Teaching Hospice?

St Gemma’s is officially recognised as a University Teaching Hospice – the first hospice to achieve this in the UK and the world.

This prestigious national status reflects our substantial research and teaching activity in collaboration with the University of Leeds, as well as the clinical impact.

We have a long-standing relationship with the University of Leeds and our new status as University Teaching Hospice formally acknowledges the quality of research and teaching our Academic Unit of Palliative Care carries out. It reinforces St Gemma’s position at the forefront of palliative care internationally and will act as the UK benchmark for integrated clinical and academic palliative care.

All of our research, teaching and training is ultimately aimed at improving patient care and means the people we look after will be treated in the best way possible. Whether we are researching pain relief, training students or learning more about palliative care developments across the world, as patients’ needs change over time, we will always be in a position to adapt because of the new research which will be carried out. Our ongoing research ensures St Gemma’s staff and volunteers have the most up-to-date education in standards of care, based on first-hand evidence.

Academic Unit of Palliative Care Mission Statement

The AUPC aims to be recognised internationally as a centre of excellence and an outstanding model for improving care of those approaching the end of life through integrated research, teaching and clinical practice.

Our Values

Our work is guided by our values:

  • Respect and value patients, carers, staff and all those we work with
  • Innovate and integrate with local clinical practice
  • Inspire and support continual development and sharing of knowledge
  • Build capacity to ensure a sustainable academic unit
  • Be responsible and accountable for the standard of our work.