Breaking bad news

New in 2026

This is a full-day in-person course.

Delivering bad news is a core skill that profoundly influences patient experience and clinical outcomes. This interactive course equips doctors with practical tools to handle difficult conversations with confidence, empathy and professionalism.

Through a combination of case-based discussion, structured frameworks and group work, participants will learn how to prepare effectively, respond to emotional reactions, manage uncertainty, and sustain therapeutic relationships with patients.

The course also addresses cultural considerations and explores how ineffective communication of bad news can have lasting career implications for clinicians.

Content includes:

• Current studies on empathy in healthcare and the role of social cognition in underpinning the development of empathy.
• The three types of empathy and how clinicians can apply them in practice.
• The hidden costs of empathy blind spots.
• How the Kübler-Ross Change Curve^® can be used to understand patient responses and anticipate likely reactions. 
• How cultural sensitivities can impact discussions and using the ARCHES model to facilitate communication when a family requests diagnostic non-disclosure.
• Applying the SPIKES framework to support compassionate delivery of difficult news.
• Key areas where a single incident can lead to multiple adverse outcomes for doctors.

Who should attend?

• Consultants/specialists
• GPs
• Hospital doctors
• Training grade doctors (GPST1-4 and ST1-8) 
• Foundation doctors (FY2 only)

Awaiting accreditation by the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK for 5 category 1 (external) CPD credits.

Speakers