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November 11, 2026
Sharing knowledge, improving care
At St Gemma’s, learning is part of everyday life. We are committed to continually learning and improving so that we can provide the best possible care for patients and families. Our Clinical Practice Educator Nurse, Clare, supports students undertaking placements from universities across Leeds, welcomes and inducts new nurses joining St Gemma’s, and helps colleagues maintain and develop the essential knowledge and skills they need in their roles.
Clare says: “My role is really about increasing people’s confidence and competence. We want our clinical staff to feel invested in and supported to be the best they can be. Great learning is shaped by more than what you teach. It’s also about how you teach it and the environment in which learning takes place.
“Being in a working hospice means learning is closely connected to the reality of specialist palliative care, with patients and families at the heart of everything we do. We have a new learning and education room on In-Patient Unit, which gives us a dedicated space to provide hands-on training close to the clinical environment. This enables staff to apply what they have learned directly to their practice.”
Some of the training is highly specialist. St Gemma’s is one of a few adult hospices in the area providing tracheostomy care for people with a breathing tube in their neck. Clare also helps to deliver training in psychological care, helping colleagues across the organisation – including those working in our shops and Bistro – to recognise when someone may be distressed and know how to offer support, while also looking after their own wellbeing.
Clare adds: “Education isn’t just about clinical skills. We want everyone at St Gemma’s to feel able to recognise when someone is struggling and know how to respond. We’re always learning and looking for ways to improve, because ultimately that means better care for our patients and families.”
St Gemma’s was the UK’s first University Teaching Hospice, and through our Academic Unit of Palliative Care we continue to share our specialist knowledge and expertise with healthcare professionals across Leeds, nationally and internationally.
Our education and training reaches far beyond the Hospice itself, supporting professionals working in a range of settings, from hospitals and care homes to GP practices and community services. By sharing knowledge and developing skills in specialist palliative care, we help equip healthcare professionals to provide better care for people approaching the end of life, wherever they are being cared for.
During 2025/26, we trained 919 professionals from outside St Gemma’s, helping to extend the reach of our expertise and support improvements in palliative care across Leeds and beyond.
To find out more about studying at the Academic Unit of Palliative Care and to view our upcoming courses, please visit www.st-gemma.co.uk/education-and-training/palliative-care-training-courses