This module will enable students to develop advanced clinical skills in the context of clinical management of frailty and end of life care in community and secondary care settings.

Module Summary

This module aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complexity of frailty, palliative care, and end-of-life management in healthcare. Explore the physiological, psychological, social, and ethical considerations in addition to the practical strategies involved in providing high-quality care for patients in these stages of life. Drawing from interdisciplinary perspectives, students will examine the challenges and opportunities in delivering person-centred care to frail and terminally ill patients, with an emphasis on promoting dignity, autonomy, and quality of life.

Content

This 20-week course will utilise online and in-person lectures and seminars over 10 teaching weeks, featuring workshops and discussion forums to put theory into practice.  A further 10 weeks is allocated for the student to build a portfolio in practice to provide evidence of competence.  

The following topics will be covered:  

• Identifying disease stage
• Death and dying
• Common clinical presentations, including cognitive impairment across the lifespan
• Symptom management and investigations
• Communication, documentation and referrals
• Pharmacology considerations
• Ethical considerations
• Difficult conversations and advanced care planning

Teaching

This module runs once a week for 10 weeks, and a further 10 weeks for assessment and portfolio.

Start Month: April 2026 (Terms 3 & 4)

Teaching: w/c 13.04.2026 - 11/09/2026 (Thursday)

Student Vacation: 22/06/2026 - 06/07/2026

Start Month: July 2026 (Terms 4 & 1)

Teaching: w/c 06.07.2026 - 12/12/2026 (Thursday)

Student Vacation: TBC

Assessment

20-credit module / Level 7

• OSCE
• Portfolio

Faculty

The module lead is Senior Lecturer Hasan Alsararatee (Acute Medicine ACP)