Working with PRIME (Partnerships in Medical Education) International in Pakistan – Ruth Alderton

PRIME (Partnerships in Medical Education) International have been building relationships with partner organisations in Pakistan for many years and in January of this year I was fortunate enough to be able to accompany Dr Gill Horne (a PRIME tutor) to deliver Palliative Care Training in both Karachi and Lahore.

We provided 4 days of teaching at Holy Family Hospital, Karachi to approximately 16 nurses, doctors, dieticians, physios and pharmacists to support them in setting up a new palliative care service, under the inspiring leadership of their hospital administrator and lead doctor. We taught them communication skills, symptom control and end of life care, as well as service delivery and self-care. As we were teaching a small group and most of the attendees had a very good understanding of English, we didn’t need an interpreter and the group supported each other when help with translation was needed.

We then travelled north-east to Lahore to deliver palliative care training to pastors, community workers and students, as part of a medical conference organised by a theological college.  Approximately 70 people attended, having travelled from all over Pakistan, for the 3 day course and feedback from both of the programmes was very positive.  This was my first experience of teaching palliative care overseas and although it was very challenging, we were made to feel very welcome and both of the programmes were very much appreciated.

In terms of methodology, we used a variety of techniques (the programmes for both weeks were wholly and expertly devised by Gill) including a brief period of didactic teaching to introduce the subject then group work to enhance understanding and participation.  We were supported by our lovely interpreter in Lahore who kindly went through the programme with us each night ahead of the next days teaching, to ensure he fully understood and could translate accurately and sensitively. In Lahore we also had a day of “training the trainer” before the main programme started, as there were approximately 70 people present so we worked with 6-8 individuals to train them in communication skills so that they could then facilitate groups themselves.

Following our return we have met online with the clinical leads from the only hospice in Pakistan to discuss possible future teaching opportunities, with a view to involve the Holy Family Hospital team in supporting this also.  We are meeting with Andy Charley, the CEO for PRIME after Easter to discuss a possible future trip to Pakistan, however, as PRIME trips are self-funded, we are keen that if a future trip is offered, it would need to be co-delivered by some of the HFH team, to help develop their own staff and their own teaching skills. I really enjoyed the trip and am very grateful to Gill and PRIME for this opportunity.

For further information regarding the work of PRIME international, please see their website:

https://www.prime-international.org/home.htm

13/04/25

Ruth Alderton works as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner at Prospect Hospice, in Wiltshire and is a Trustee with PCW.