Providing compassionate care to families facing a life-limiting diagnosis during pregnancy or the loss of a baby requires knowledge, skill, confidence, and empathy. Patch Academy’s Comprehensive Online Certificate Course in Perinatal Palliative Care equips healthcare professionals with the practical tools and understanding needed to provide holistic, family-centred care during some of life’s most challenging moments.

This immersive 4-month online learning experience combines evidence-based knowledge with real-world application, helping participants develop the clinical, communication, ethical, and psychosocial skills essential for high-quality perinatal palliative care. The course is coordinated by Tracy Rawlins, a professional nurse and PatchSA’s Education & Training Manager.

The course is accredited with 30 CPD Points by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (25 General and 5 Ethics).

Course content includes:

  • Key principles of paediatric, perinatal, and neonatal palliative care
  • Compassionate communication and navigating difficult conversations
  • Ethics and shared decision-making
  • Psychosocial and spiritual care for babies and families before, during, and after birth
  • Physical care of mother and baby at the time of birth
  • Pain and symptom management for newborn babies
  • Memory and legacy-making
  • Bereavement support following the death of a baby
  • Self-care and managing conflict in clinical practice

Participants will benefit from:

  • Interactive online learning modules
  • Live webinars, online meetings, and discussion forums
  • A marked assignment with personalised feedback
  • A copy of our book on Perinatal Palliative Care
  • A final assessment quiz to consolidate learning
  • A Certificate of Completion

Who should register
This course is suitable for anyone involved in the care of pregnant women and newborn infants, including doctors and specialists, obstetricians and gynaecologists, midwives, nurses, sonographers, genetic counsellors, therapist and allied healthcare providers. No prior qualification in palliative care is required. Participants should have reasonable academic ability, proficiency in English, and basic computer literacy.

Learning is entirely online and accessible to participants throughout South Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and internationally. To successfully complete the course, participants will need to commit to 2 live webinars, have access to reliable internet and to a computer.

Read what previous participants had to say
“This course ABSOLUTELY blew me away! The flow, different ways of engaging us in the learning process, interactive videos and questions all make this course incredibly valuable, enjoyable and worthwhile. I feel absolutely ready, empowered and informed to offer great perinatal palliative care in our hospital. It was by far the best online learning experience I have ever participated in.”
Dr Ané Buchner
Paediatric Oncologist and Palliative Care Physician

“Overall, a brilliant course with deep meaning to it. After experiencing loss myself, I was searching for ways to equip myself to help mothers who have suffered the loss of a pregnancy or child. This was as much a personal course as it was a professional one. I wish I had this knowledge earlier.”
Dr Nazaaket Gaffoor
GP and Obstetrician

“The amount of thoughtful effort, clear explanations, beautifully curated videos and resources in this course is awe-inspiring. The content resonated deeply with me and highlighted the need for perinatal palliative care in my setting.”
Dr Marelize Bosman
Paediatric Cardiologist

“A complete shift in my thought process and actual practice. It has been an incredible journey of learning with lots of emotions and light-bulb moments. I strongly feel that this course should be obligatory for all healthcare providers.”
Dr Jevani Govender
Paediatrician

“I learned so much during this course that I don’t even know where to start. It was a lot of work but so insightful. I gained so much knowledge and enjoyed every moment. The course was really well presented and of a high standard.”
Miss Frances Coetzee
Neonatal ICU Unit Manager

“This course provided insight and inspiration on how meaningful and valuable it is to incorporate palliative care principles into everyday situations with the families encountered within any hospital setting.”
Ms Simona Moi
Speech Therapist, NICU and PICU

Course fees and bursaries
The course fee is R3,800 with a 10% discount for paying PatchSA members.  A payment plan consisting of two equal instalments may be arranged. A number of partial bursaries are available.

Whether you are new to perinatal palliative care or looking to deepen your existing knowledge and skills, this comprehensive course offers an opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners, connect with colleagues, and gain the confidence to support babies and families with compassion, competence, and dignity.

Click here to register today and become part of a growing community committed to improving perinatal palliative care.