NHS Tayside

Why did we join ECHO?

The population of NHS Tayside is spread across a large geographical area. Using Project ECHO allowed us to reach colleagues across health and social care who were providing palliative care in their communities. Project ECHO offered an innovative, cost effective approach which helped reduce inequalities of access to palliative care educational support across the region. The format of Project ECHO supports the development of relationships and collaborative learning, with participants learning with and from each other and creates networks and communities of practice.

Current and planned work

We have established ECHO groups with Community Hospital Nurses, Community Nurses, Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialists, Care Home staff and Care at Home providers.

Within our care home network we have facilitated groups on specific topics. These have included series of sessions focused on psychological and emotional support for staff affected by the pandemic, nutrition in palliative care and Foundations in Palliative and End of Life Care for support workers. We hope to continue using Project ECHO to support education in response to identified needs.