A new session on time-critical telephone conversations has been added to Health Education England elearning for healthcare (HEE elfh)’s end-of-life care for all public access elearning programme.

The new session explores the structure, strategies and phrases that can be used when obtaining information or delivering unwelcome news to relatives over the telephone in time-critical situations, such as a deteriorating patient. This has been particularly prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic where visiting restrictions have highlighted the importance of the telephone as a mode of communication in healthcare.

The session focuses on rapidly acquiring information and communicating unwelcome news concerning death, dying and deterioration in a sensitive manner.

HEE elfh has also updated the following sessions:

• Dealing with challenging relatives
• Skills which facilitate good communication

The end-of-life care for all programme, developed in partnership with the Association for Palliative Medicine, is designed to enhance the training and education of all those involved in delivering end-of-life care such as social care workers, support workers, administrative and clerical staff, and volunteers.

For more information and to access the new and updated sessions, please visit the end-of-life-care for all (e-ELCA) programme page.