One of Cornwall Hospice Care’s consultants has been awarded the Palliative Medicine Masters Prize from The Royal Society of Medicine.

Dr Jane Gibbins carried out a piece of research around care of the dying.  

She said: ’Ours was the first study to consider whether it was possible to approach people in acute hospitals who were very, very poorly to ask if we could potentially research their care as they died.  

’We were in the business of challenging cultures and with ethical approval and appropriate governance, we were able to carry out this study. Relatives said yes and a sizeable number of patients were able to say they would like to take part too.’

The research aimed to improve care of the dying by making possible individualised care for patients and the very best symptom control for each patient.

As part of the study, doctors and nurses were helped to change their focus from measurements such as blood pressure and temperature to concentrating on ’key problems’ for the dying, comfort and pain, including nausea, breathlessness and distress.

Dr Jane says the award is an honour and recognises the importance of research.