Palliative Care Pioneer Retires

Dr Fiona Downs, a pioneering consultant who helped set up the Palliative Care Team in NHS Forth Valley, recently retired from her role at Strathcarron Hospice.

Dr Downs also served on local and national committees, and in recent years was the driving force and played a key role in the development of national guidelines for palliative care.

She said: “It’s always been important to me to communicate with patients and their families so they understand what’s going on. I think it’s important to live for whatever time you have and keep achieving goals, and also help relatives savour that time. Over the years, I have learned so much from patients and their families.”

Irene McKie, CEO at Strathcarron Hospice said: “Fiona has been absolutely instrumental in developing specialist palliative care in Forth Valley. She has shown huge commitment and has absolutely embraced everything a hospice should be. She’ll be greatly missed.”