Welcome to our new SPICT @ St Andrews mailing list.
SPICT programme
The SPICT International Programme has moved to its new home at the University of St Andrews. Our SPICT website has the same URL. www.spict.org.uk
Data protection meant everyone on our mailing list had to subscribe to the new one, so thank you for doing that. We welcome anyone interested in SPICT to join our mailing list.
Dr Sarah Mills, Lecturer in General Practice, is now leading the SPICT International Programme. Dr Kirsty Boyd is supporting Sarah, along with Dr Sam Quinn.
Our SPICT team email is [email protected]
SPICT 2025 versions
You’ll find the SPICT 2025 English versions and Using SPICT information, along with a guide for each version.
You can download them to your device or as pdf files.
SPICT 2025 versions have a few small changes. This is based on feedback from SPICT partners. SPICT aims to use clear language that reflects what palliative care can offer many more people when it starts earlier and is integrated with other treatment and care.
SPICT 2025 refers to ‘life-shortening’ conditions because palliative care focuses on helping people live as well as possible. A person’s life does not need to be ‘limited’ by their illnesses.
Variable and uncertain illness journeys due to multiple health conditions are increasingly common. Palliative care focuses on quality of life and can help people over years, rather than months. Terms like ‘advanced’ or ‘terminal’ illness are not easy to define or explain.
The SPICT programme does not refer to ‘end of life’ care. This is because it is often used as a euphemism for care of a person who is dying instead of talking more openly about dying, death and bereavement support. Early palliative care is needed long before someone is dying. Too many people still think that ‘palliative care’ means ‘end of life care’ and that they will die soon.
People may have life-shortening mental health and physical health conditions so we have included both in ‘Other Conditions’.
SPICT translations
Our SPICT translations are all on the new website. You’ll find them listed on the page for each version of SPICT in English.
Please let us know if you’d like to update your current SPICT translation to a 2025 version on the website. You can see the changes we made for the 2025 versions on our SPICT translations page.
We know that several groups are working on SPICT translations. Some are also translating and adapting the Using SPICT guides. We look forward to being able to add these new resources to the website.
If you are thinking of starting a translation project, please let us know. We keep a record of current translation projects and group leads. We encourage people from the same country or language to work together.
SPICT partners
Many SPICT Partners have chosen to join the new website. If anyone would like to change or correct their entry, just let us know.
Your organisation might like to become a SPICT partner for the first time and share what you are doing with SPICT in your service, teaching or research.
We are planning to have a SPICT Partner Spotlight in future newsletters. Let us know if your organisation would like to take part.
Please contact us if you have any questions or ideas about how we can develop our SPICT international programme and the SPICT website.
Best wishes
Sarah & Kirsty
Dr Sarah Mills & Dr Kirsty Boyd
SPICT International Programme Team