Launch of Patch Academy 

Patch SA is the national charity supporting the development of hospice and palliative care services for children like Benjamin and for all children with any type of life-threatening or life-limiting illness or condition, and their families.

Patch SA Chair, paediatrician and Paediatric Palliative Care Specialist, Dr Michelle Meiring, released the following statement for International Childhood Cancer Day and the launch of Patch Academy:

“Despite the National Policy Framework and Strategy on Palliative Care being ratified in 2017, it has yet to be implemented and there is an enormous gap in the provision of education on children’s palliative care for medical and allied health care providers. Education in the basic elements of paediatric palliative care would ensure that children like Benjamin and his family would receive good palliative care from the time of his diagnosis, and not just in the last weeks of life.

This International Childhood Cancer Day we are proud to announce the launch of Patch Academy, on online learning platform providing CEU accredited certificate courses on elements of children’s palliative care. While internationally relevant, the courses have been created specifically with South African health care providers in mind and are suited to doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologist, pharmacists, therapists and in fact anyone who wishes to learn how to provide palliative care to babies, toddlers, children and adolescents.”

Should you wish to learn more or undertake one of the CMSA accredited Patch Academy courses, please go to www.academy.patchsa.org