Go straight to the e-learning resource: End of Life Care for All.

End of Life Care for All (e-ELCA) is an e-learning programme developed for the NHS West Midlands by experts commissioned by the National End of Life Programme and the Association for Palliative Medicine. More than 130 sessions of education are available.

As part of the NHS West Midlands' workforce programme, entitled "End of Life Care is Everyone's Business", the e-ELCA is being piloted - to test how it works - by six organisations in the region: NHS South Warwickshire, NHS Walsall, University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust, NHS Worcestershire, St Giles Hospice (near Tamworth) and St Michael's Hospice (near Hereford).

Nicole Woodyatt, NHS West Midlands' workforce development specialist in end of life care, says the key from the pilot sites is to use the available resources as part of a "blended" approach – combining e-learning with face-to-face time and discussion.

"The e-ELCA is a fabulous resource for education and training in all aspects of end of life care, but it is not resource-free – it takes time to use it and also time for people to get used to a new way of learning," she explains. "Trainers and educators are also taking time to find ways of using it effectively. Some of the practical issues that trainers have had to overcome include ensuring staff can access the system and get passwords and training rooms when they need them.

"We are keen to share the learning from the pilot sites with others who may want to encourage staff to use this resource."

As the pilots are completed, reports and recommendations will be written to share information and experiences. NHS West Midlands then hopes to use NHS local to share supporting resources and lessons learned - and encourage more trusts and organisations to use the e-ELCA.

Led by NHS West Midlands, "End of Life Care is Everyone's Business" is linked closely to the National End of Life Programme. It aims to improve the quality and consistency of end of life care experienced by people and their families by addressing the workforce issues identified in the End of Life Care Strategy and West Midlands Clinical Pathway Group report in 2008.

With the annual number of deaths expected to rise by 17 per cent between 2012 and 2030, many key workers – from GPs and hospital doctors to ambulance workers, pharmacists, care home and domiciliary workers – report that they don't have the skills or confidence to deal effectively with people and families approaching the end of life.

The workforce programme was developed and is being implemented in collaboration with a wide range of organisations involved in this area of care – from the health, care, education, voluntary and independent sectors.

More than 100 organisations have so far been involved in the programme, which is governed through a programme board chaired by Dr Patrick Brooke.

The programme runs five strategic themes - education and training for staff; education programmes; technology-enabled solutions; identification, care planning and advance care planning, and strategic planning and partnership working.  As resources and education programmes are developed, the outputs will be shared widely.

Go to the e-learning resource: End of Life Care for All.

Due for review October 2013