This course is only open to NHS Dumfries & Galloway staff

A one-day intensive workshop open to all NHS Dumfries & Galloway staff.

Overview

Participants will work in a small peer group and address communication drawn from their own clinical practice, teaching and management roles. Common challenges addressed during the programme are:

• Discussing complex or distressing information
• Shared decision making & informed consent
• Taking over care from colleagues – effective handovers
• Managing complex negotiations
• Handling anger, emotional distress, collusion or denial
• Addressing and preventing complaints: talking to patients and families involved in adverse events
• Discussing future care planning, CPR and other treatment options
• Addressing poor performance by trainees, colleagues or other members of the clinical team
• How to enhance effective teamwork

Learning Outcomes

This clinical communication workshop offers participants the opportunity to:
• Review their current practice in relation to communication in clinical practice and with colleagues and other staff.
• Identify personal learning objectives and develop strategies for addressing these within a peer learning group.
• Critique and apply relevant literature/ theory on effective communication.
• Consider and take account of patient/carer/colleague perspectives.
• Identify and practise ways of increasing communication effectiveness.
• Exchange ideas and experiences with colleagues

Pre-workshop preparation

Workshop participants have found it useful to think about how they currently communicate and what situations are particularly challenging. As the workshop is based on participants’ own situations we will be asking what you would like to work on.

Please complete the pre-workshop evaluation as soon as possible as we use this information to plan the content of your workshop.

Tutor Team

Dr Sarah Pickstock

EC4H Tutor

Dr Sarah Pickstock is a Consultant in Palliative Medicine in NHS Dumfries and Galloway. Sarah completed her EC4H tutor training in 2016.

Dr Gavin Stephenson

Lead EC4H Tutor

Dr Stephenson is a Diabetes Specialist Doctor working in NHS Dumfries & Galloway.  He joined the EC4H Tutor Team in February 2026

Dr Amy Conley

EC4H Tutor

Dr Amy Conley is a Consultant Physician within NHS Dumfries & Galloway.  She completed her tutor training in 2024.